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LAWS  OF 

RELATING  TO 


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PUBLIC   SCHOOLS 


STATE  SUPERINTENDENT 
OF  SCHOOLS 

AUGUSTA 

1921 


vuu .  l-ows, 


LAWS  OF  MAINE 


RELATING  TO 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 


1921 


Compiled  by  the  State  Superintendent  and  printed 
agreeably  to  An  Act  approved  March  13,  1889 


•»  ••    ' 


This  pamphlet  will   be  sent   free  on  application   to  the   State.  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools,  Augusta,  Maine 


738446 


CONTENTS 


Education   of  Youth 

(Chap.  16,  R.  S.  1916  as  amended) 

Sedtions      1-15     Location  of   Schools. 

Sections     16-  36    Duties  of  Towns. 

Sections  37-  54  Powers  and  Duties  of  Superintending  School  Com- 
mittees. 

Sections     55-  62     Superintendence  Through  the  Union  of  Towns. 

Sections    63-  71     Compulsory  Education. 

Sections    73-104    Free  High  Schools  and  Academies. 

Sections  105-109     Duties  and  Qualifications  of   Instructors. 

Sections  110-112    Teachers'  Associations. 

Sections  113-114     Schools  in  Plantations. 

Sections  120-125     State   Superintendent  of    Public   Schools. 

Sections  126-132     State   Examinations  of   Teachers. 

Sections  133-139    Industrial  Education. 

Sections  140-146     Normal  Schools. 

Section  147    Instruction  for  the  Blind. 

Sections  148-152    Penal  Provisions  Affecting  Schools. 

Sections  169-177    Teachers'  Pensions. 

Chapter    137     Registration  of  Teachers. 

Chapter    186     Promotion  of  Vocational  Education. 

Chapter     22    Education  of  Deaf  and  Dumb  Children. 

Chapter     26     Rating  and  Standardization  of   Schools. 

Chapter      51     Training  of  Rural  Teachers. 

Chapter     73     Physical  Education  in  the  Public  Schools. 

Chapter    105     Funds  for  Vocational  Education. 

Chapter    127     Schooling  in  Unorganized  Territory. 

Chapter  205  Part-Time  and  Evening  School  Classes  for  Persons  Be- 
tween the  Ages  of  Fourteen  and  Eighteen  Years  Em- 
ployed in  Industrial  Establishments  Who  Have  Not 
.  Completed  the  Elementary  School. 

Chapter  217  Upkeep,  Equipment  and  Extensions  for  the  Several  Nor- 
mal Schools  and  the  Madawaska  Training  School. 

Chapter   228    Equalization  Fund  for  Secondary  Schools. 

Sections  20-31  of  Chap.  49,  R.  S.,  Chap.  190,  P.  L.  1919— Employment  of 
Children. 

Chapter  33  Improvement  of  Sanitary  Conditions  in  School  Building 
Toilets. 

Chapter  97  Acceptance  of  Benefits  of  Act  by  Congress  Relative  to 
Promotion  of  Vocational  Rehabilitation  of  Persons 
Disabled  in  Industry  and  Otherwise. 

Chapter    109     Temperance  Day  in  the  Public  Schools. 

Chapter    173     State   School   Funds. 


LAWS  OF  MAINE 

RELATING  TO 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS       :>• 
1921 

Being-  Chapter  16,  Revised  Statutes  of  1916  (and  amend- 
ments thereto)  together  with  certain  other  parts  of  the  Re- 
vised Statutes  and  Public  Laws  of  1917  and  1919,  governing 
the  management  of  all  public  schools  except  those  districts 
organized  with  special  powers  by  acts  of  the  legislature. 


CHAPTER  16. 

EDUCATION    OF    YOUTH. 
Location  of  Schools. 

Sec.  i.  All  school  districts  abolished  except  districts  or- 
ganized by  act  of  legislature;  how  schools  in  such  districts 
shall  be  supported;  corporate  powers  of  districts  continued 
for  purpose  of  meeting  liabilities.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  i.  The  school 
districts  in  all  towns  in  the  state  are  abolished.  Provided, 
however,  that  school  districts  organized  with  special  powers 
by  act  of  the  legislature,  may  retain  such  organization  and 
special  powers;  but  said  districts  shall  annually,  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  June,  by  their  .agents,  trustees  or  directors, 
submit  to  the  school  committees  of  their  several  towns  esti- 
mates of  the  amounts  required  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
schools  therein,  other  than  free  high  schools,  for  the  ensuing 
school  year,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  such  portion  of  the 
common  school  funds  of  the  town  as  said  committees  shall 
determine,  which  sum  shall  not  be  less  than  is  necessary  for 
the  maintenance  of  their  schools  for  a  period  equal  to  that 
of  the  other  schools  of  the  town ;  .and  provided  further,  that 
the  corporate  powers  of  every  school  district  shall  continue 
so  far  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  meeting  its  liabili- 
ties and  enforcing  its  rights ;  and  any  property  held  in  trust 
by  any  school  district  by  virtue  of  a  gift,  devise  or  bequest 
for  the  benefit  of  said  district  shall  continue  to  be  held  and 
used  according  to  the  terms  thereof. 

go  Me.  322;    91  Me.  519. 


6  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  2.  Nc  change  in  location  of  any  school  legally  estab- 
lished ;  towns  may  determine  number  and  location  on  recom- 
mendation of  school  committee;  schools  with  few  scholars 
may  be  suspended ;  superintendent  shall  procure  conveyance 
for  scholars;  committee  may  furnish  board  instead  of  pro- 
viding conveyance.  R.  S.  c-  15,  §  2.  1907,  c.  90.  1913,  c. 
148.  The  location  of  any  school  legally  established  prior  to 
the  seventeenth  day  of  March,  eighteen  hunded  and  ninety- 
three  continues  unchanged,  notwithstanding  the  district  is 
abolished ;  but  any  town  at  its  annual  meeting,  or  at  ,a  meet- 
ing called  for  the  purpose,  may  determine  the  number  and 
location  of  its  schools,  and  may  discontinue  them  or  change 
their  location ;  but  such  discontinuance  or  change  of  loca- 
tion shall  be  made  only  on  the  written  recommendation  of 
the  superintending  school  committee,  and  on  conditions 
proper  to  preserve  the  just  rights  and  privileges  of  the  in- 
habitants for  whose  benefit  such  schools  were  established ; 
provided,  however,  that  in  case  any  school  shall  hereafter 
have  too  few  scholars  for  its  profitable  maintenance,  the 
superintending  school  committee  may  suspend  the  operation 
of  such  school  for  not  more  than  one  year  unless  otherwise 
instructed  by  the  town,  but  any  public  school  failing  to 
maintain  an  average  attendance  for  any  school  year,  of  at 
least  eight  pupils,  shall  be  and  hereby  is  suspended,  unless 
the  town  in  which  said  school  is  located  shall  by  vote,  at  the 
annual  meeting,  or  at  a  meeting  called  for  that  purpose, 
after  the  said  committee  shall  have  made  a  written  recom- 
mendation to  that  effect,  instruct  its  superintending  school 
committee  to  maintain  said  school.  The  superintendent  of 
schools  in  each  town  shall  procure  the  .conveyance  of  all 
common  school  pupils  residing  in  his  town,  a  part  or  the 
whole  of  the  distance,  to  and  from  the  nearest  suitable  school, . 
for  the  number  of  weeks  for  which  schools  are  maintained 
in  each  year,  when  such  pupils  reside  at  such  ,a  distance 
from  the  said  school  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  shall  render  .such  conveyance  necessary. 
In  all  cases,  conveyance  so  provided  shall  conserve  the  com- 
fort, safety  and  welfare  of  the  children  conveyed  and  shall 
be  in  charge  of  a  responsible  driver  who  shall  have  control 
over  the  conduct  of  the  children  conveyed.  Provided,  how- 
ever, that  the  superintending  school  committee  may  author- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  / 

ize  the  superintendent  of  schools,  to  pay  the  board  of  any 
pupil  or  pupils  at  a  suitable  place  near  any  established  school 
instead  of  providing  conveyance  for  said  pupil  or  pupils, 
when  in  their  judgment  it  may  be  done  at  an  equal  or  less 
expense  than  by  conveyance. 

Sec.  3.  Schoolhouse  lots  acquired  by  condemnation;  dam- 
ages how  appraised;  lot  to  revert  to  owner  if  not  occupied 
for  two  years.  Land  may  be  taken  for  schoolhouse  lot, 
playgrounds.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  3'  When  a  location  for  the  erec- 
tion or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse  and  requisite  buildings  has 
been  legally  designated,  by  vote  of  the  town  at  any  town 
meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  and  the  owner  thereof  re- 
fuses to  sell,  or,  in  the  opinion  of  the  municipal  officers,  asks 
an  unreasonable  price  for  it,  or  resides  without  the  state  and 
has  no  authorized  agent  or  attorney  therein,  they  may  lay 
out  a  schoolhouse  lot  and  playgrounds,  not  exceeding  five 
acres,  and  appraise  the  damages  as  is  provided  for  laying  out 
town  ways,  and  appraising  the  damages  therefor;  and  on 
payment  or  tender  of  such  damages,  or  if  such  owner  does 
not  reside  in  the  state,  upon  depositing  such  damages  in  the 
treasury  of  such  town  for  his  use,  the  town  designating  it 
may  take  such  lot  to  be  held  and  used  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid ;  and  when  such  schoolhouse  has  ceased  to  be 
thereon  for  two  years,  said  lot  reverts  to  the  owner>  his  heirs 
or  .assigns.  And  any  town  or  city  may  take  real  estate  for 
the  enlargement  or  extension  of  any  location  designated  for 
the  erection  or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse  and  requisite  build- 
ings and  playgroundSj  as  herein  provided ;  but  no  real  estate 
shall  be  so  taken  within  fifty  feet  of  a  dwelling  house,  and  all 
schoolhouse  lots  and  playgrounds  that  require  fencing  shall 
be  fenced  by  the  town  or  city. 

52  Me.  146;  60  Me.  405,  542,  545;  63  Me.  192;  67  Me.  283;  77  Me. 
120;  98  Me.  131. 

Sec.  4.  Appeal  by  aggrieved  owner.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  4.  If 
itihe  owner  is  aggrieved  at  the  location  of  the  lot,  or  the 
damages '  awarded,  he  may  apply  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners within  six  months,  who  may  change  the  location  and 
assess  the  damages.  If  the  damages  are  increased,  or  the 
location  changed,  such  town  or  district  shall  pay  the  dam- 
ages and  costs;  otherwise  the  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the 
applicant. 


8  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

60  Me.  335,  542,  543;     63  Me.  192;     98  Me.  131. 

Sec.  5.  Schoolhouse  lots,  erroneous  location,  how  re- 
established and  made  valid.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  5.  If  any  town 
or  school  district,  by  its  officers  or  by  a  committee,  has  desig- 
nated, located  and  described  a  lot  upon  which  to  erect,  move 
or  repair  a  schoolhouse,  and  from  mistake  or  omission  has 
failed  to  comply  with  the  law,  whereby  such  location  has 
been  rendered  invalid,  three  legal  voters  and  taxpayers 
thereof  may  apply  in  writing  to  the  selectmen  of  said  town, 
and  have  the  lot,  so  designated  or  described,  re-appraised  by 
them. 

Sec.  6.  Notice  of  appraisement  and  hearing.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  6.  The  selectmen  of  any  town  to  whom  such  application 
has  been  made,  shall  forthwith  give  not  less  than  seven  nor 
more  than  twenty  days'  notice,  to  the  clerk  of  said  town  or 
district  and  to  the  owner  of  such  real  estate,  or  to  the  persons 
having  the  same  in  charge,  of  the  time  and  place  by  them 
fixed  for  such  hearing,  and  shall,  .after  examination  and  hear- 
ing of  all  interested,  appraise  the  lot  as  set  out  and  affix  a 
fair  value  thereon,  exclusive  of  improvements  made  by  said 
district  or  town,  either  by  buildings  or  otherwise ;  and  shall, 
as  soon  as  practicable,  notify  the  town  or  district  clerk,  and 
the  persons  interested  in  said  estate  who  had  been  notified 
as  hereinbefore  provided,  of  the  sum  at  which  said  lot  has 
been  appraised. 

Sec.  7.  Assessment  and  collection.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  7.  The 
sum  fixed  as  the  value  of  said  lot  shall  be  assessed,  collected 
and  paid  over  as  other  school  money. 

Sec.  8.  Tender  to  be  allowed  in  payment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  8. 
Any  sum  which  has  been  tendered  and  is  in  the  hands  or 
under  the  control  of  the  persons  owning  or  having  charge 
of  such  land,  shall  be  allowed  in  payment  of  said  appraisal. 

Sec-  9.  Either  party  may  appeal.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  9.  If  the 
town  or  district,  or  persons  owning  or  having  charge  of  the 
land  on  which  such  location  is  made,  are  dissatisfied  with 
such  appraisal,  either  party  'may  within  ten  days  appeal  to 
the  county  cmmissioners  of  the  county  in  which  the  land 
lies,  by  filing  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  and  a  claim  of  appeal 
with  said  commissioners,  and  the  determination  of  a  major- 
ity of  said  commissioners  not  residents  of  said  town,  shall  be 
final. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  b> 

Sec.  10.     Improvements  inure  to  town  or  district.     R.  S.  c. 

15,  §  IO*  When  ,any  school  district  or  town  has  erected  or 
moved  a  building  upon  such  lot  or  in  any  way  improved  the 
same,  such  improvement  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  such 
town  or  district,  and  the  same  may  be  as  completely  occupied 
and  controlled  by  such  town  or  district  as  it  would  have  been 
if  such  location  had  been  in  strict  conformity  to  law. 

Sec-  n.  Tax  not  affected  by  error  in  location.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
g  n.  The  legality  of  a  tax  assessed  to  build,  repair  or  re- 
move a  schoolhouse  and  to  pay  for  a  lot,  shall  not  be  affected 
by  any  mistake  or  error  in  the  designation  or  location  thereof. 

Sec.  12.  Plan  to  be  approved  by  committee.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  12.  1909,  c.  88,  §  3.  A  plan  for  the  erection  or  reconstruc- 
tion of  any  schoolhouse  voted  by  a  town}  shall  first  be  ap- 
proved by  the  superintending  school  committee;  and  in  case 
no  special  building  committee  has  been  chosen  by  the  town, 
said  superintending  school  committee  shall  have  charge  of 
said  erection  or  reconstruction ;  provided,  however,  that 
they  may  if  they  see  fit,  delegate  said  power  and  duty  to 
the  superintendent  of  schools. 

Sec.  13.  Plans  and  specifications  to  be  furnished  by  state 
superintendent.  1909,  c.  88,  §  i.  1913,  c.  89.  The  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  procure  architects' 
plans  and  specifications  for  school  buildings  of  not  exceeding 
four  rooms  each,  and  full  detail  working  plans  therefor. 
Said  plans  ,and  specifications  shall  be  loaned  to  any  superin- 
tending school  committee  or  school  building  committee  desir- 
ing to  erect  a  new  school  building.  For  the  use  of  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  in  procuring  such  plans  and 
specifications  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  annually  shall 
be  appropriated. 

no  M-e.  242. 

Sec.  14.  Provision  for  heating,  lighting  and  ventilating- 
1909,  c.  88,  §  2.  1917,  c.  62.  Where  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions prepared  by  the  state  superintendent  are  not  used,  all 
superintending  school  committees  of  towns  in  which  new 
schoolhouses  are  to  be  erected,  shall  make  suitable  provision 
for  the  heating,  lighting  and  ventilating  and  hygienic  condi" 
tions  of  such  buildings,  and  all  plans  and  specifications  for 
any  such  proposed  school  building  and  plans  for  the  recon- 
struction or  remodeling  of  any  school  building,  the  expense 


10  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

for  which  shall  exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  and  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  state  board  of  health  before  the  same 
shall  be  accepted  by  the  superintending  school  committee  or 
school  building  committee  of  the  town  in  which  it  is  pro- 
posed to  erect  such  building.  The  superintending  school 
committee  or  the  school  building  committee  in  charge  of  the 
erection  of  a  new  school  building  or  of  the  reconstruction 
or  remodeling  of  any  school  building  as  provided  for  by  this 
section  shall  seasonably  notify  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  of  its  readiness  for  occupancy  and  shall  report 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  on  blanks  fur- 
nished by  said  state  superintendent,  such  facts  relative  to 
the  arrangement,  construction  or  reconstruction  of  said  build- 
ing as  shall  indicate  whether  or  not  the  proposals  in  the  plans 
and  specifications  previously  approved  have  been  met. 
Whenever  it  shall  appear  to  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  that  such  approved  plans  in  their  provisions 
for  heatingj  lighting,  ventilating  and  hygienic  conditions 
have  not  been  carried  out,  he  'may  cause  an  inspection  of  said 
building  to  be  made  and  shall  notify  said  committee  of 
changes  required  to  be  made  to  comply  with  the  conditions 
previously  approved  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  commit- 
tee promptly  to  rectify  said  conditions  and  failure  so  to  do 
shall  render  the  town  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section  nine- 
teen of  this  chapter. 

110  Me.  242. 

Sec.  15.  Schoolhouses  shall  be  provided  with  proper 
exits;  municipal  officers  shall  correct  defects.  1909,  c.  100. 
Any  building  which  is  used  in  whole  or  in  part  as  a  school- 
house  shall  be  provided  with  proper  egresses  or  other  means 
of  escape  from  fire  sufficient  for  the  use  of  all  persons  therein 
accommodated.  These  egresses  and  means  of  escape  shall 
be  kept  unobstructed,  in  good  repair  and  ready  for  use. 
Stairways  on  the  outside  of  the  building  shall  have  suitable 
railed  landings  at  each  story  above  the  first,  accessible  at 
each  story  from  doors  or  windows ;  and  such  stairwaySj  doors 
or  windows  shall  be  kept  clean  of  snow,  ice  and  other  ob- 
structions. In  school  buildings  of  more  than  one  story  there 
shall  be  ,at  least  two  separate  means  of  egress  by  inside  or 
outside  stairways,  and  each  story  above  the  first  shall  be 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  11 

supplied  with  means  of  extinguishing  fire,  consisting  of  pails 
of  water  or  other  portable  apparatus,  or  of  a  ho>se  attached 
to  a  suitable  w.ater  supply  and  such  appliance  shall  be  kept 
at  all  times  ready  for  use  and  in  good  condition.  Upon 
written  notification  by  the  superintending  school  committee 
that  any  school  building  does  not  meet  the  specifications 
herein  named,  the  municipal  officers  of  the  town  shall  at  once 
proceed  to  correct  the  defects,  and  any  failure  so  to  act  shall 
render  the  town  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section  nineteen  of 
this  chapter. 

See  c.  30,  §  37;    c.  23,  §  27. 

Duties  of  Towns. 

Sec.  1 6.  Towns  to  raise  money  for  schools;  expenditure. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  13.  1905,  c.  48,  §  i.  1907,  c.  in,  §  i,  1909,  c, 
128.  Every  town  shall  raise  and  expend,  annually,  for  the 
support  of  common  schools  therein,  exclusive  of  the  income 
of  any  corporate  school  fund,  or  of  any  grant  from  the  reve- 
nue or  fund  from  the  state,  or  of  any  voluntary  donation, 
devise  or  bequest,  or  of  any  forfeiture  accruing  to  the  use  of 
schools,  not  less  than  eighty  cents  for  each  inhabitant,  ac- 
cording to  the  census  by  which  representatives  to  the  legis- 
lature were  last  apportioned,  under  penalty  of  forfeiting  not 
less  than  twice  nor  more  than  four  times  the  amount  of  its 
deficiency,  and  all  moneys  provided  by  towns,  or  appor- 
tioned by  the  state  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  shall 
be  expended  for  the  maintenance  of  common  schools  estab- 
lished and  controlled  by  the  towns  by  which  said  moneys  are 
provided,  or  to  which  said  moneys  ,are  apportioned ;  but 
nothing  in  this  section  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  annul,  or 
render  void,  the  provisions  made  in  section  twenty-one  of 
this  chapter  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  union 
schools  by  adjoining  towns. 

See  §§  153,  154,  164;  c.  8,  §§  20,  21;  c.  17,  §  56;  68  Me.  584;  7^ 
Me.  166;  76  Me.  416;  92  Me.  327;  109  M<e.  173. 

Sec.  17.  Expenditures  by  towns  failing  to  account  for 
permanent  school  funds.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  14.  All  towns  in- 
corporated since  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  not  for- 
merly parts  of  other  towns,  which  fail  to  account  for  the 
permanent  school  fund  arising  from  sale  or  lease  of  school 
lands  in  said  towns,  shall  annually  raise  and  expend  for  the 


12  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

maintenance  of  common  schools  not  less  than  forty-five  dol- 
lars in  addition  to  the  amount  required  by  law  to  be  raised 
and  expended  for  the  support  of  said  schools. 

Sec.  1 8.  School  money,  how  paid  by  towns.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  15.  1905,  c.  48^  §  2.  1913,  c.  122.  1915,  c.  291.  No  money 
appropriated  by  law  for  public  schools  shall  be  paid  from  the 
treasury  of  any  town,  except  upon  written  order  of  its 
municipal  officers;  and  no  such  order  shall  be  drawn  by  said 
officers  except  upon  presentation  of  a  properly  avouched  bill 
of  items,  said  bill  of  items  having  first  been  approved  by  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee and  certified  by  the  superintendent  of  schools.  The 
unexpended  balance  of  ,all  moneys  raised  by  towns,  or  re- 
ceived from  the  state,  for  the  payment  of  wages  and  board 
of  teachers,  fuel,  janitors'  services,  conveyance  or  tuition  and 
board  of  scholars,  shall  be  credited  to  the  school  resources 
for  the  year  following  that  in  which  said  unexpended  balance 
accrued. 

Sec.  19.  School  fund  and  mill  tax  to  be  withheld  from 
delinquent  towns.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  16.  1905,  c.  48,  §  3.  1909, 
c.  59.  1913,  c.  181.  When  the  governor  and  council  have 
reason  to  believe  that  a  town  has  neglected  to  raise  and 
expend  the  school  money  required  by  law,  or  to  employ 
teachers  certified  as  required  by  law,  or  to  have  instruction 
given  in  the  subjects  prescribed  by  law,  or  to  provide  suitable 
textbooks  in  the  subjects  prescribed  by  law?  or  faithfully  to 
expend  the  school  money  received  from  the  state,  or  in  any 
way,  to  comply  with  the  law  prescribing  the  duties  of  towns 
in  relation  to  public  schools,  they  shall  direct  the  treasurer 
of  state  to  withhold  from  the  apportionment  of  state  school 
funds  made  to  that  town  such  amount  as  they  may  deem 
expedient  and  the  amount  so  withheld  shall  not  be  paid  until 
such  town  shall  satisfy  said  governor  and  council  that  it  has 
expended  the  full  amount  of  school  money  as  required  by 
law  and  that  it  has  complied  in  all  ways  with  the  law  pre- 
scribing the  duties  of  towns  in  relation  to  public  schools; 
and  whenever  such  town  shall  fail,  within  the  year  for  which 
the  apportionment  is  made,  so  to  satisfy  the  governor  and 
council,  the  said  amount  withholden  shall  be  forfeited  and 
shall  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund  for  the  year 
next  succeeding. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  13 

Sec.  20.  Equal  school  privileges  shall  be  provided  for  all 
pupils.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  17.  1909,  c.  29.  1915,  c,  89,  The 

school  moneys  of  every  town  shall  be  so  expended  as  to  give 
as  nearly  as  practicable  the  same  aggregate  annual  length 
of  terms  in  all  its  schools,  and  every  town  shall  make  pro- 
vision for  the  maintenance  of  all  its  schools  for  not  less  than 
thirty  weeks  annually  Any  town  failing  to  maintain  its 
schools  as  provided  in  this  section,  shall  be  debarred  from 
drawing  its  state  school  moneys  until  it  shall  have  made 
suitable  provisions  for  so  maintaining  them  thereafter. 

Sec.  21.  Union  schools  may  be  maintained  by  adjoining 
towns;  management  of  sucli  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  18.  Ad- 
joining towns,  upon  the  written  recommendation  of  the 
school  committees  of  said  towns,  may  by  concurrent  action 
maintain  union  schools  for  the  benefit  of  parts  of  said  towns 
constituting  on  the  first  day  of  March,  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-four,  union  school  districts,  or  may  establish  such 
schools,  and  shall  contribute  to  their  support  each  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  of  said  towns  at- 
tending such  schools.  Said  schools  shall  be  under  the 
management  of  the  school  committee  of  the  town  in  which 
their  schoolhouses  are  located.  • 

Sec.  22.  Purposes  for  which  school  fund  shall  be  used. 
Parent  or  guardian  may  provide  textbooks;  second-hand 
books  shall  not  be  purchased.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  19.  1905,  c.  48, 
§  4.  1909,  c.  131.  Towns  shall  expend  the  entire  amount  of 
the  school  fund  and  mill  tax  received  from  the  state  together 
with  the  amount  arising  from  the  eighty  cents  per  capita  as 
provided  in  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter,  and  the  funds 
arising  from  the  various  sources  enumerated  in  the  first  four 
lines  of  said  section,  and  the  funds  arising  from  the  pro- 
visions of  section  seventeen  of  this  chapter^  for  the  payment 
of  teachers'  wages  and  board,  fuel,  janitors'  services,  con- 
veyance of  scholars  and  tuition  and  board  of  scholars  as  pro- 
vided in  section  two  and  section  sixty-seven  of  this  chapter 
and  shall  provide  schoolbooks,  apparatus  and  appliances  for 
the  use  of  pupils  in  the  public  schools,  including  all  free  high 
schools,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  and  shall  also  pay  for 
the  necessary  repairs  of  school  buildings  and  the  insurance 
on  the  same,  if  any,  improvement  and  maintenance  of  school 
yards  and  playgrounds  out  of  ,a  sum  or  sums  of  money  raised 


14  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

and  appropriated  for  that  purpose,  which  shall  be  assessed 
like  other  money  and  shall  be  in  addition  to  and  independent 
of  the  amount  which  towns  are  required  by  law  to  raise, 
assess  ,and  expend  for  the  support  of  common  schools ;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  any  parent  or  guardian  of  any  pupil  in 
the  public  schools  may  at  his  own  expense  procure  for  the 
separate  and  exclusive  use  of  such  pupil  the  textbooks  re- 
quired to  be  used  in  such  schools,  and  no  second-hand  books 
shall  be  purchased  for  the  use  of  any  school ;  whoever  vio- 
lates this  provision  shall  forfeit  not  exceeding  five  hundred 
dollars,  to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt  by  any  school 
officer  or  person  aggrieved. 

See  §§  162,  163. 

Sec.  23.  Distribution  of  books,  etc.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  20. 
School  committees  shall  make  such  rules  and  regulations  not 
repugnant  to  law,  as  they  deem  proper,  for  the  distribution 
and  preservation  of  schoolbooks  and  appliances  furnished 
at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

Sec.  24.  Damages  for  injuring  or  destroying,  recovered  of 
parent  or  guardian.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  21.  When  a  pupil  in  the 
public  schools  loses,  destroys,  or  unnecessarily  injures  any 
such  schoolbook  or  appliance,  furnished  such  pupil  at  the 
expense  of  said  town,  his  parent  or  guardian  shall  be  noti- 
fied, and  if  the  loss  or  damage  is  not  made  good  to  the  satis- 
faction of  such  committee  within  a  reasonable  time,  they 
shall  report  the  case  to  the  assessors,  who  shall  include  in 
the  next  town  tax  of  the  delinquent  parent  or  guardian  the 
value  of  the  book  or  appliance  so  lost,  destroyed  or  injured, 
to  be  assessed  and  collected  as  other  town  taxes. 

Sec.  25.  Cities  and  towns  may  raise  money  for  evening 
schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  22.  Any  city  or  town  may,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  sum  raised  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools, 
raise  and  appropriate  money  for  the  support  of  evening 
schools,  which  shall  admit  persons  of  any  age,  shall  teach 
only  the  elementary  branches,  and  shall  be  under  the  direc- 
tion and  supervision  of  the  superintending  school  commit- 
tee. 

See  §  137- 

Sec.  26.  Instruction  in  industrial  or  mechanical  drawing. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  23.  Any  city  or  town  may  annually  make  pro- 
vision for  free  instruction  in  industrial  or  mechanical  draw- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  15 

ing,  to  persons  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  either  in  day  or 
evening  schools,  under  direction  of  the  superintending  school 
committee. 

Sec.  27.  Manual  training  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  24.  Any 
city  or  town  mayy  in  addition  to  the  sum  raised  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  common  schools,  raise  and  appropriate  money  for 
the  support  of  manual  training  schools  and  may  receive  gifts 
an.d  bequests  for  the  use,  maintenance  and  support  of  such 
schools. 

See  §§  135-138. 

Sec.  28.  Such  schools  under  direction  of  committee ;  rules 
and  regulations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  25.  Such  schools  shall  be 
under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  superin- 
tending school  committee,  .and  shall  admit  such  persons  be- 
tween the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  years,  and  shall  give 
such  courses  of  instruction  as  said  committee  may  determine. 
Pupils  in  such  schools  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  condi- 
tions, rules  and  regulations  as  are  provided  for  public 
schools. 

Sec.  29.  Scholars  at  light  stations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  26.  1911, 
c.  161.  Persons  between  the  ages  of  five  ,and  twenty-one 
years  living  at  any  light  station,  fog  warning  station  or  life 
saving  station,  shall  be  admitted  to  any  public  school  in  the 
state  without  paying  tuition ;  such  scholars  shall  be  entitled 
to  all  privileges  and  benefits,  and  be  subject  to  the  same 
conditions,  rules  and  regulations  as  scholars  residing  in  the 
town  in  which  they  attend  school. 

Sec.  30.  School  age.  Kindergartens.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  27. 
1911,  c.  22.  1917,  c.  134.  The  age  of  pupils  allowed  to 
attend  the  public  schools  of  the  state  is  hereby  fixed  between 
the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years;  and  every  child  be- 
tween the  said  ages  shall  have  the  right  to  attend  the  public 
schools  in  the  town  in  which  his  parent  or  guardian  has  a 
legal  residence,  subject  to  such  reasonable  regulations  as  to 
the  numbers  ,and  qualifications  of  pupils  to  be  admitted  to 
the  respective  schools  and  as  to  other  school  matters  as  the 
superintending  school  committee  shall  from  time  to  time 
prescribe ;  provided,  however,  that  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  any  city  or  town  may  and  upon  the  filing  with 
the  municipal  officers  of  such  city  or  town  of  a  petition  not 
less  than  one  month  before  the  annual  town  meeting  by  the 


16  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

parents  or  guardians  of  thirty  or  more  children  between  four 
and  six  years  of  age  living  within  a  mile  of  a  public  elemen- 
tary school,  shall,  unless  otherwise  instructed  by  the  town 
or  city,  maintain  a  kindergarten  or  kindergartens  as  a  part  of 
the  common  school  course,  and  pupils  shall  be  allowed  to  at- 
tend such  a  kindergarten  or  kindergartens  upon  reaching  the 
age  of  four  years ;  provided  further,  that  unless  the  average 
daily  attendance  in  any  kindergarten  shall  be  fifteen  or  more 
for  any  school  year  the  superintending  school  committee, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  superintendent  of  schools, 
may  discontinue  the  school ;  provided  further,  that  no  person 
shall  be  allowed  to  teach  in  any  kindergarten  maintained 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  who  has  not  completed 
at  least  a  two  years'  course  in  kindergarten  training  and 
received  a  certificate  or  diploma  from  ,a  recognized  kinder- 
garten training  school  approved  by  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools. 

Sec.  31.  Annual  school  returns  to  state  superintendent. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  28.  1909,  c.  91.  The  assessors  or  municipal 
officers  of  each  town,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  each 
May,  make  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  a 
certificate,  embracing  the  following  items : 

I.  The  amount  voted  by  the  town  for  common  schools  at 
the  preceding  annual  meeting. 

II.  The  amount  of  school  moneys  payable  to  the  town 
from  the  state  treasury  during  the  year  ending  with  the  first 
day  of  the  preceding  April. 

III.  The  amount  of  money  actually  expended  for  com- 
mon schools  during  the  preceding  fiscal  year  of  the  town. 

IV.  The  amount  of  school  moneys  unexpended  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  preceding  fiscal  year  of  the  town. 

V.  Answers  to  such  other  inquiries  as  are  presented  to 
secure  a  full  and  complete  statement  of  school  revenues  and 
expenditures. 

Sec.  32.  Election  of  superintending  school  committee, 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  29.  Every  town  shall  choose  by  ballot  at  its 
annual  meeting,  a  superintending  school  committee  of  three, 
to  hold  office  as  provided  in  the  following  section  and  shall 
fill  vacancies  arising  therein  at  each  subsequent  annual  meet- 
ing. No  person  is  ineligible  to  the  office  of  superintending 
school  committee  on  account  of  sex. 

See  Const,  of  Me.  Art.  ix,  §  i. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  17 

Sec.  33.  Superintending  school  committees,  when  first 
chosen,  shall  arrange  terms  of  office;  vacancies.  No  mem- 
ber shall  be  employed  to  teach  in  his  own  town.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  30.  1919,  c.  155.  School  committees  first  chosen  shall  des- 
ignate by  lot  a  member  or  members  to  hold  office  for  one, 
two  and  three  years,  respectively,  in  manner  as  follows :  one 
for  one  year,  one  for  two  years  and  one  for.  three  years ;  and 
they  shall  certify  such  designation  to  the  town  clerk  to  be  by 
him  recorded;  and  thereafterwards  one  member  shall  be 
chosen  by  ballot  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  to  hold 
office  for  three  years.  Said  committee  may  fill  vacancies 
occurring  between  annual  meetings,  and  the  term  of  office  of 
any  member  of  the  committee  so  chosen  shall  expire  at  the 
next  annual  meeting.  No  member  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  of  any  town  shall  be  employed  as  a  teacher 
in  any  public  school  in  said  town.  In  case  any  member  of 
the  superintending  school  committee  shall  remove  from  the 
town  or  be  absent  for  more  than  ninety  days  a  vacancy  shall 
be  declared  to  exist  and  the  remaining  members  shall  within 
thirty  days  thereafter  choose  another  member  as  hereinbefore 
provided.  Whenever  the  remaining  members  fail  to  appoint 
a  person  to  fill  a  vacancy  the  same  may  be  filled  by  election 
ai  a  town  meeting  called  for  the  purpose. 

Sec.  34.  Sections  32  and  33  shall  not  apply  to  certain 
cities.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  31.  The  provisions  of  the  two  preced- 
ing sections  shall  not  apply  to  cities  whose  charters  specify 
the  methods  of  election  and  term  of  office  of  a  superintend- 
ing school  committee  or  board  of  education ;  nor  to  towns, 
cities  and  incorporated  districts  authorized  by  private  and 
special  laws  to  choose  school  committees  other  than  those 
herein  provided  for. 

Sec.  35.  Penalty  for  neglect  to  choose  committee.  R.  S. 
c.  15,  §  32.  A  town  failing  to  elect  members  of  the  super- 
intending school  committee  as  required  by  law  forfeits  not 
less  than  thirty,  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  36.  Committee  shall  serve  without  pay;  compensa- 
tion of  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  33.  Superintending 
school  committees  shall  serve  without  pay,  unless  otherwise 
voted  by  the  town,  but  the  superintendent  shall  receive  for 
his  services  such  sum  as  the  town  shall  annually  vote  there- 
for, which  sum  shall  in  no  case  be  less  than  two  dollars  a  day 
2 


18  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

for  every  day  of  actual  service  and  necessary  traveling  ex- 
penses. 

Powers  and  Duties  of  Superintending  School  Committees 
and  Superintendents. 

Sec.  37.  Management  of  schools;  election  and  discharge 
of  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  34.  1911,  c.  173.  1913, 
c.  78.  1915,  c.  129.  The  management  of  the  schools  and  the 
custody  and  care,  including  repairs  and  insurance  on  school 
buildings,  of  all  school  property  in  every  town,  shall  devolve 
upon  the  superintending  school  committee  which  shall  annu- 
ally, and  as  often  as  a  vacancy  shall  occur,  elect  a  superin- 
tendent of  schools  who  shall  not  be  a  member  of  the 
committee,  and,  after  the  first  day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred 
sixteen,  no  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  schools  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  unless 
he  shall  hold  a  teacher's  state  certificate,  or  a  state  certificate 
of  superintendence  grade.  After  due  notice  and  investiga- 
tion, the  superintending  school  committee  may  for  cause  dis- 
charge a  superintendent  of  schools  and  after  protracted 
absence  from  duty  on  the  part  of  said  superintendent,  may 
declare  a  vacancy  in  his  office.  This  section,  so  far  ,as  it 
relates  to  the  manner  of  the  election  or  employment  of  super- 
intendents of  schools  shall  not  apply  to  cities,  nor  to  towns 
authorized  by  special  laws  to  employ  or  choose  superintend- 
ents in  manner  otherwise  than  is  herein  provided. 

100  Me.  136. 

Sec.  38.  Duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  35.  1905,  c,  48,  §  5.  1919, 
c.  137.  Superintending  school  committees  shall  perform  the 
following  duties : 

I.  Direct  the  general  course  of  instruction  and  approve  a 
uniform   system  of  textbooks ;    no  textbook  thus  approved 
shall  be  changed  for  three  years  unless  by  vote  of  the  com- 
mittee ;  and  perform  such  other  functions  as  may  be  specified 
by  law. 

II.  They  shall  make  provision  for  the  instruction  of  all 
pupils  in  schools,  supported  by  public  money  or  under  state 
control,  in  physiology  and  hygiene,  with  special  reference  to 
the  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks,  stimulants  and  narcotics  upon 
the  human  system. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  19 

III.  After  due  notice  and   investigation,   they  shall  dis- 
miss any  teacher,  although  having  the  requisite  certificate, 
who  proves  unfit  to  teach,  or  whose  services  they  deem  un- 
profitable to  the  school ;   and  give  to  said  teacher  a  certificate 
of  dismissal  and'  of  the  reasons  therefor,  a  copy  of  which 
they  shall  retain,  .and  such  dismissal  shall  not  deprive  the 
teacher  of  compensation  for  previous  services. 

3  Me.  453  ;     16  .Me.  185. 

IV.  Expel    any    obstinately    disobedient    and    disorderly 
scholar,  after  a  proper  investigation  of  his  behavior,  if  found 
necessary  for  the  peace  and  usefulness  of  the  school;    and 
restore  him  on  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  repentance  and 
amendment. 

38  Me.  391. 

V.  Exclude,  if  they  deem  it  expedient,  any  person  not 
vaccinated,  although  otherwise  entitled  to  admission,  unless 
a  parent  or  guardian  of  such  person  shall  present  a  signed 
statement  that  such  parent  or  guardian  is  opposed  to  vaccin- 
ation in  which  event  such  person  may  only  be  excluded  in 
the  event  of  an  epidemic  of  smallpox. 

VI.  Prescribe  the  sum,  on  payment  of  which  persons  of 
the  required  age,  resident  on  territory,  the  jurisdiction   of 
which  has  been  ceded  to  the  United  States,  included  in  or 
surrounded  by  the  town  may  attend  school  in  the  town. 

See  c.  2,  §§  i,  5,  6. 

VII.  Determine  what  description  of  scholars  shall  attend 
each  school,  classify  them,  and  transfer  them  from  school  to 
school  where  more  than  one  school  is  kept  at  the  same  time. 

Sec.  39.  Secret  societies  prohibited.  1913,  c.  34.  No  pupil 
of  any  public,  elementary  or  secondary  school  shall  partici- 
pate in  or  be  a  member  of  any  secret  fraternity  or  secret 
society  whatsoever  that  is  in  any  degree  a  school  organiza- 
tion. Superintending  school  committees  shall  enforce  the 
provisions  of  this  section  and  may  expel  or  otherwise  dis- 
cipline any  pupil  for  failure  or  refusal  to  comply  with  its 
provisions. 

Sec.  40.  School  physicians  appointed.  1909,  c.  73,  §  i. 
The  superintending  school  committee  of  every  city  and  town 
shall  appoint  one  or  more  school  physicians  and  shall  assign 
one  to  the  medical  inspection  of  not  over  one  thousand  pupils 
of  the  public  schools  within  its  city  or  town,  and  shall  pro- 


20  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

vide  them  with  all  proper  facilities  for  the  performance  of 
their  duties  as  hereinafter  prescribed ;  provided,  however, 
that  the  said  committee  has  been  so  authorized  by  vote  of 
the  town  at  a  regular  town  meeting  or  at  a  special  town 
meeting  called  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  41.  Duties  of  physicians.  1909,  c.  73,  §  2.  Every 
school  physician  shall  make  a  prompt,  examination  and  diag- 
nosis of  all  children  referred  to  him  as  hereinafter  provided, 
and  such  further  examination  of  teachers,  janitors  and  school 
buildings  as  in  his  opinion  the  protection  of  the  health  of  the 
pupils  may  require. 

Sec.  42.  Treatment  of  pupils.  1909,  c.  73,  §  3.  The  pupils 
so  examined  by  school  physicians,  when  treatment  is  neces- 
sary, shall  not  be  referred  to  any  school  physician  for  such 
treatment  unless  such  school  physician  is  the  regular  family 
physician  of  such  pupil ;  but  shall  be  referred  to  the  regular 
family  physician  of  such  pupil  through  the  parents  or 
guardian. 

Sec.  43.  Examination  of  pupils  after  absence  on  account 
of  sickness.  1909,  c.  73,  §  4.  1915,  c.  174.  The  superintend- 
ing school  committee  shall  cause  to  be  referred  to  a  school 
physician  for  examination  and  diagnosis  every  child  return- 
ing to  .a  school  without  a  certificate  from  the  board  of  health 
or  family  physician  after  absence  on  account  of  illness  or 
whenever  in  the  judgment  of  the  teacher  the  circumstances 
of  the  absence  were  such  as  to  require  such  a  certificate,  and 
every  child  in  the  schools  under  its  jurisdiction  who  shows 
signs  of  being  in  ill  health  or  of  suffering  from  infectious  or 
contagious  diseases,  unless  he  is  at  once  excluded  from 
school  by  the  teacher;  except  that  in  case  of  schools  in 
remote  and  isolated  situations,  the  school  committee  may 
make  such  other  arrangements  as  may  best  carry  out  the 
purposes  of  sections  forty  to  forty-seven,  both  inclusive. 

Sec.  44.  Notice  of  disease  or  defects.  1909,  c.  73,  §  5. 
The  superintending  school  committee  shall  cause  notice  of 
disease  or  defects,  if  any,  from  which  any  child  is  found  to  be 
suffering,  to  be  sent  to  his  parents  or  guardians.  Whenever 
a  child  shows  symptoms  of  smallpox,  scarlet  fever,  measles, 
chicken  pox,  tuberculosis,  diphtheria  or  influenza,  tonsilitis, 
whooping  cough,  mumps,  scabies  or  trachoma,  he  shall  be 
sent  home  immediately  or  as  soon  as  safe  and  proper  con- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  21 

veyance  can  be  found,  and  the  board  of  health  and  superin- 
tendent of  schools  shall  at  once  be  notified. 

See  c.  19,  §§  10,  50-63. 

Sec.  45.  Examination  of  sight  and  hearing ;  notice  of  de- 
fect or  disability  to  parent  or  guardian.  1909,  c.  73,  §  6.  The 
superintending  school  committee  of  every  city  or  town  shall 
cause  every  child  in  the  public  schools  to  be  separately  and 
carefully  tested  and  examined  at  least  once  in  every  school 
year  to  ascertain  whether  he  is  suffering  from  defective  sight, 
or  hearing,  or  from  any  other  disability  or  defect  tending  to 
prevent  his  receiving  the  full  benefit  of  his  school  work,  or 
requiring  a  modification  of  the  school  work  in  order  to  pre- 
vent injury  to  the  child  or  to  secure  the  best  educational 
results.  Tests  of  sight  and  hearing  shall  be  made  by  the 
teachers  or  by  the  school  physicians.  The  committee  shall 
cause  notice  of  any  defect  or  disability  requiring  treatment 
to  be  sent  to  the  parent  or  guardian  of  the  child,  and  shall 
require  a  physical  record  of  each  child  to  be  kept  in  such 
form  as. the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  pre- 
scribe after  consultation  with  the  state  board  of  health. 

Sec.  46.  State  superintendent  of  schools  shall  prescribe 
directions  for  tests.  1909,  c.  73,  §  7.  The  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  shall  prescribe,  after  consultation  with 
the  state  board  of  health,  the  directions  for  tests  of  sight  and 
hearing,  and  shall  prescribe  and  furnish  to  the  school  com- 
mittees suitable  rules  of  instruction,  test  cards,  blanks, 
record  books  and  other  useful  appliances  for  carrying  out  the 
purposes  of  the  six  preceding  sections. 

Sec.  47.  Expense  that  may  be  incurred  by  city  or  town. 
1909,  c.  73,  §  8.  Expenses  which  a  city  or  town  may  incur 
by  virtue  of  the  authority  herein  vested  in  the  superintend- 
ing school  committee  shall  not  exceed  the  amount  appro- 
priated for  that  purpose  in  cities  by  the  city  council  and  in 
towns  by  a  town  meeting.  The  appropriations  shall  precede 
any  expenditure  under  the  seven  preceding  sections,  and  the 
sum  appropriated  shall  be  deemed  sufficient  appropriation 
in  the  municipality  where  it  is  made.  Such  appropriation 
need  not  specify  to  what  section  it  shall  apply  and  may  be 
voted  as  a  total  appropriation  to  be  applied  in  carrying  out 
the  purposes  of  said  sections. 

Sec.  48.  Application  of  §§  40  to  47.  1909,  c.  73,  §  9.  The 
provisions  of  the  eight  preceding  sections  shall  apply  only  to 


22  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

cities  and  towns  having  a  population  of  less  than  forty  thou- 
sand inhabitants. 

Sec.  49.  Superintendent;  his  duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §§  36, 
39.  1905,  c.  48,  §  6.  1913,  c.  112;  c.  58,  §  5.  1919,  c.  83. 
The  superintendent  of  schools  in  every  town  shall  return  un- 
der oath  to  the  school  committee,  in  April  annually,  a  certi- 
fied list  of  the  names  and  ages  of  all  persons  in  the  town 
from  five  to  twenty-one  years,  corrected  to  the  first  day  of 
said  month,  leaving  out  of  said  enumeration  all  persons  com- 
ing from  other  places  to  .attend  any  college  or  academy,  or 
to  labor  in  any  factory,  or  at  any  manufacturing  or  other 
business. 

Sec.  50.  Return  to  state  superintendent  of  schools.  R.  S. 
c-  Z5>  §  37-  I9II>  c.  121.  He  shall  annually  make  returns  to 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  of  the  number  of 
persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years,  to- 
gether with  a  certified  list  of  the  names  and  ages  of  such 
persons,  corrected  to  the  first  day  of  April  preceding  the  time 
of  making  such  returns,  and  give  full  and  complete  answers 
to  the  inquiries  contained  in  the  blank  forms  furnished  him 
by  law;  certify  that  such  statement  is  true  and  correct,  ac- 
cording to  his  best  knowledge  .and  belief;  and  transmit  it  to 
the  office  of  the  state  superintendent  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  each  May.  He  shall  also  furnish  such  other  informa- 
tion relating  to  the  public  schools  as  the  state  superintendent 
shall  at  any  time  require  of  him.  When  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  on  examination  of  the  census  re- 
turns of  any  town  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  census  has  been 
inaccurately  taken,  he  shall  make  a  statement  thereof  to  the 
governor  and  council  who  may  require  the  census  of  such 
town  to  be  retaken  and  returned  and,  if  they  think  necessary, 
they  may  for  this  purpose  appoint  persons  to  perform  this 
service ;  and  such  persons  so  appointed  shall  take  the  same 
oath,  perform  the  same  service  and  receive  the  same  com- 
pensation out  of  the  same  funds  as  the  person  or  persons 
who  took  the  school  census  in  the  first  instance ;  and  the 
school  fund  distributable  in  proportion  to  enumeration  of 
scholars  shall  be  distributed  on  the  corrected  returns. 

Sec.  51.  Annual  return  of  statistics.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  38. 
1905,  c.  48,  §  7.  1913,  c.  4.  He  shall  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  August,  annually,  make  under  oath  a  full  and  com- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  23 

plete  return  of  all  educational  statistics  for  the  year  ending 
the  first  day  of  July  next  preceding,  and  any  town  that  shall 
fail,  through  its  school  officers,  to  make  the  return  required 
by  this  section  shall  be  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section 
nineteen  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  52.  Flags  to  be  furnished  schools.  1907,  c.  182.  1915, 
c.  176.  Superintendents  of  schools  shall  see  that  the  flag  is 
displayed  from  the  public  school  buildings  on  appropriate 
occasions.  They  shall  report  annually  to  the  towns  the 
amount  necessary  to  furnish  the  public  schools  with  suitable 
flags  and  flagstaffs  and  towns  shall  annually  appropriate  a 
sufficient  amount  to  defray  the  necessary  cost  of  the  display 
of  the  flag.  The  appropriation  for  this  purpose  shall  be 
separate  from  and  additional  to  all  other  appropriations  for 
schools.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  instructors  to  impress  upon 
the  youth  by  suitable  references  and  observances  the  sig- 
nificance of  the  flag,  to  teach  them  the  cost,  the  object  and 
principles  of  our  government,  the  great  sacrifices  of  our  fore- 
fathers, the  important  part  taken  by  the  Union  Army  in  the 
war  of  eighteen  hundred  sixty-one  to  eighteen  hundred 
sixty-five,  and  to  teach  them  to  love,  honor  and  respect  the 
flag  of  our  country  that  cost  so  much  and  is  so  dear  to  every 
true  American  citizen. 

See  c.  i,  §  6,  ff  xix. 

Sec.  53.  Exclusion  of  pupils  from  school  on  account  of 
filth  or  disease;  notice  to  parents.  1909,  c.  31,  §  i.  When  a 
teacher  becomes  aware  or  suspects  that  any  of  the  pupils 
attending  his  school  are  in  a  condition  which  renders  them  a 
source  of  offense  or  danger  to  the  other  pupils  in  school  on 
account  of  filthiness,  or  because  they  are  the  bearers  of  ver- 
min or  parasites,  or  have  an  infectious  or  contagious  disease 
of  the  skin,  mouth  or  eyes,  he  shall  notify  the  superintendent 
of  schools.  When  a  superintendent  of  schools  knows  or 
learns  that  any  of  the  pupils  attending  any  school  within  his 
jurisdiction,  are  affected  with  any  of  the  conditions,  infec- 
tions, or  diseases  herein  mentioned,  he  shall  notify  the  par- 
ents to  cleanse  the  clothing  and  the  bodies  of  the  children  and 
to  furnish  them  with  the  required  home  or  medical  treat- 
ment, for  the  relief  of  their  trouble,  and  he  may,  when  he 
deems  it  necessary,  exclude  such  children  from  the  schools 
temporarily  or  until  they  may  be  cured,  cleansed  and  disin- 
fected. 


24  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  54.     Duty  of  parents;  penalty  for  neglect.     1909,  c.  31. 

§  2.  Parents  thus  notified  of  the  condition  of  their  children 
shall  forthwith  have  them  and  their  clothing  cleansed  and 
shall  promptly  do  what  is  necessary,  or  furnish  them  such 
medical  treatment  as  may  be  required,  to  rid  the  children  of 
vermin,  parasites,  or  contagion ;  any  parent  who  fails  to  do 
what  is  required  so  that  the  children  may  return  to  school 
with  as  little  loss  of  time  as  is  possible,  shall  be  punished  by 
a  fine  not  to  exceed  five  dollars  for  the  first  offense,  and  not 
to  exceed  ten  dollars  for  a  second  or  subsequent  offense. 
See  c.  19,  §§  50-63. 

Superintendence  of  Schools  Through  the  Union  of  Towns. 

Sec.  55.  I.  All  towns  to  be  combined  by  state  superin- 
tendent for  purposes  of  supervision,  on  or  before  Jan.  i,  1918. 
Aggrieved  school  committees  may  appeal  to  governor  and 
council.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  55.  1917,  c.  188,  §  i.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  on  or  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  January,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen,  to 
combine  all  the  towns  of  the  state,  except  as  herein  provided, 
into  unions  for  the  purpose  of  employing  superintendents  of 
schools.  Such  supervisory  unions  as  shall  have  been  formed 
prior  to  said  date  may  be  dissolved  by  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  for  the  purpose  of  more  advantageous 
combinations.  Provided,  however,  that  any  superintending 
school  committee  of  a  town  dissatisfied  with  the  combination 
proposed  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  to 
include  that  town  may  appeal  to  the  governor  .and  council 
who  shall  make  the  final  decision  relative  thereto.  The 
unions  formed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  ef- 
fective July  first,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen.  Whenever, 
upon  the  representation  of  the  suprintending  school  com- 
mittee of  any  town,  it  shall  appear  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools  to  be  to  the  advantage  of  said  town  and  of 
the  state  to  change  the  combination  of  towns  composing  the 
union  of  which  said  town  is  a  part,  the  said  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  shall  have  authority  to  direct  the 
dissolution  and  organization  of  unions  so  that  a  more  advan- 
tageous combination  may  be  effected.  Provided,  however, 
that  any  superintending  school  committee  of  a  town  dissatis- 
fied with  the  combination  proposed  by  the  state  superin- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  25 

tendent  of  public  schools  to  include  that  town  may  appeal  to 
the  governor  .and  council  who  shall  make  the  final  decision 
relative  thereto, 

II.  Union  to  include  not  less  than  thirty  nor  more  than 
fifty  schools ;  proviso.  Any  school  supervisory  union  formed 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  include  not  less 
than  thirty  nor  more  than  fifty  schools  unless  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  shall  find  upon  representation  of 
any  school  committee  that  owing  to  geographical  situation 
or  other  reasons  it  is  to  the  advantage  of  the  state  and  of 
said  towns  that  a  union  shall  include  fewer  than  thirty  or 
more  than  fifty  schools. 

Sec.  56,  First  meeting  to  be  held  upon  notification  of 
state  superintendent;  subsequent  meetings.  Union  superin- 
tendent removed  for  cause.  Salary,  tenure  of  ofHce,  etc.  R. 
S.  c.  16,  §  56.  1917,  c.  188,  §  2.  The  superintending  school 
committee  of  the  towrns  composing  a  union  shall  form  a  joint 
committee,  and  for  the  purposes  of  this  section  and  the  four 
following  sections,  said  joint  committee  shall  be  held  to  be 
the  agents  of  each  town  composing  the  union,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  town 
may  authorize  one  of  its  members  to  act  for  the  committee 
in  the  meetings  of  the  joint  committee,  and  in  such- case,  the 
member  so  authorized,  may  cast  the  votes  for  the  full  mem- 
bership of  his  committee.  Said  joint  committee  upon  noti- 
fication by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
meet  before  the  first  day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen, 
and  in  June  annually  thereafter,  at  a  day  and  place  agreed 
upon  by  the  chairman  of  the  committees  of  the  several  towns 
composing  the  union,  and  shall  organize  by  the  choice  of  a 
chairman  and  a  secretary.  Said  joint  committee  shall  de- 
termine the  relative  amount  of  service  to  be  performed  by 
the  superintendent  in  each  town,  including  the  minimum 
number  of  visits  to  be  made  each  term  to  each  school,  fix  his 
salary,  apportion  the  amounts  thereof  to  be  paid  by  the  sev- 
eral towns,  which  amounts  shall  be  certified  to  the  treasurers 
of  said  towns,  respectively,  and  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools,  together  with  the  amounts  apportioned,  to 
each  town,  provided,  that  the  amount  so  certified  shall  be 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  service  performed  in  the  sev- 
eral towns.  Said  joint  committee,  at  the  time  of  its  organi- 


26  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

zation,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible,  and  whenever  a 
vacancy  shall  occur,  shall  choose 'by' ballot  a  superintendent 
of  schools  for  a  term  of  not  more  than  five  years  and  the 
term  for  which  a  superintendent  is  elected  shall,  in. all  cases, 
end  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  June  of  the  year  in  which  the 
contract  expires,  provided,  however,  that  said  committee,  by 
a  two-thirds  vote  of  its  full  membership,  after  due  notice  and 
investigation,  may,  for  cause,  discharge  a  superintendent  of 
schools  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was 
elected,  and  after  such  discharge  the  salary  of  said  superin- 
tendent shall  cease. 

Sec.  57.  I.  Return  to  be  made  on  or  before  Aug.  i,  1918, 
and  annually  thereafter.  Union  superintendents  to  be  paid 
out  of  sum  specifically  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  Super- 
intendents may  be  reimbursed  for  expenses.  R.  S.  c.  16, 
§  57.  1917,  c.  188,  §  3.  1919,  c.  18.  The  chairman  and 
secretary  of  said  joint  committee  shall,  upon  the  election  of  a 
superintendent  of  schools  as  provided  by  the  preceding  sec- 
tion, certify  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools,  upon  the  forms  prescribed  by  him,  all  facts  relative 
to  said  union  and  employment  of  a  superintendent.  On  or 
before  the  first  day  of  August,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen, 
and  annually  thereafter,  and  whenever  a  new  superintendent 
is  chosen  said  chairman  and  secretary  shall  make  return  of 
a  similar  certificate.  Upon  approval  of  said  certificate  the 
superintendent  so  employed  shall,  on  presentation  of  proper 
vouchers,  receive  monthly  qut  of  the  sum  appropriated  for 
superintendence  of  towns  composing  school  unions  a  sum 
equal  to  twice  the  aggregate  sum  paid  by  the  towns  compos- 
ing the  union,  provided,  that  the  amount  so  paid  for  the 
benefit  of  a  single  union  ok  towns  shall  not  exceed  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  in  one  year,  and  provided  further,  that  the  an- 
nual appropriation  for  payments  hereunder  shall  be  deducted 
from  state  school  funds.  The  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  annually  shall  cause  an  investigation  to  be  made  of 
the  conditions  of  supervision  in  unions  of  towns,  including 
the  relative  financial  support  for  supervision  by  towns,  the 
rtlative  distances  required  to  be  traveled  and  the  relative 
amounts  of  expenses  to  be  paid  by  superintendents  of  schools 
directly  in  connection  with  the  supervision  and  administra- 
tion of  schools  in  unions  of  towns.  When  it  appears  to  the 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  27 

state  superintendent  of  public  schools  that  the  efficiency  of 
supervision  in  any  union  is  or  may  be  lessened  because  of 
the  financial  burden  to  towns,  expenses  for  travel  and  other 
purposes  required  to  be  paid  by  the  superintendent  of  such 
union  because  of  the  number  and  location  of  schools,  geo- 
graphical or  other  conditions,  said  state  superintendent  of 
schools,  annually  in  August,  shall  issue  to  the  governor  and 
council  a  recommendation  relative  thereto  and  the  governor 
and  council,  on  the  approval  of  said  recommendation,  may 
draw  a  warrant  for  payment  out  of  the  sum  appropriated  for 
superintendence  of  towns  composing  school  unions  in  favor 
of  the  superintendent  or  superintendents  of  schools  em- 
ployed in  said  union  within  the  school  year  ending  June 
thirtieth  immediately  preceding,  provided,  however,  that  the 
amount  so  paid  for  the  benefit  of  a  single  union  shall  not  ex- 
ceed three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  annually  and  shall  be  in 
addition  to  other  payments  made  to  said  superintendent  as 
provided  in  this  section  and  provided  further  that  the  amount 
so  available  for  the  equalization  of  such  expenses  shall  not 
exceed  one-fifth  of  the  appropriation  for  superintendence  of 
towns  composing  school  unions. 

II.  Towns  and  cities  having  fifty  schools  or  over  need  not 
unite.  Return  to  be  made  annually  in  December.  Like  reg- 
ulations to  be  observed  as  in  union.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  57.  1917, 
c.  188,  §  4.  The  superintending  school  committee  of  a  city 
or  town  having  under  its  care  and  custody  an  aggregate  of 
more  than  fifty  schools  may  employ  a  superintendent  of 
schools  without  uniting  with  other  cities  or  towns  for  the 
purpose.  Said  superintendent  of  schools  shall  be  chosen  in 
the  same  manner  and  for  the  same  term,  his  salary  shall  be 
fixed  .and  he  may  be  discharged  under  the  same  conditions 
as  superintendents  employed  under  the  provisions  of  section 
fifty-six.  Annually,  in  the  month  of  December,  the  chairman 
and  secretary  of  said  committee  shall  certify  to  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools,  upon  forms  prescribed  by 
him,  all  facts  relative  to  the  employment  of  a  superintendent 
including  the  amount  of  his  salary  received,  then  upon  the 
approval  of  said  certificate  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  and  presentation  to  the  governor  and  council, 
a  warrant  shall  be  drawn  upon  the  treasurer  of  state  for  the 
payment  to  the  treasurer  of  that  town  or  ctiy,  of  a  sum  equal 


28  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

to  two-thirds  the  amount  expended  by  said  town  or  city  for 
said  superintendence,  provided  that  the  amount  so  paid  for 
the  benefit  of  a  single  town  or  city  shall  not  be  at  a  rate 
exceeding  eight  hundred  dollars  for  one  year. 

Sec.  58.  I.  Salary  may  be  paid  from  appropriation  for 
salary  of  town  officers,  not  to  be  paid  from  school  appropria- 
tion. R.  S.  c.  16,  §  58.  1917,  c.  188,  §  5.  Towns  shall  appro- 
priate for  the  salary  of  the  superintendent  of  schools  their 
proportion  of  the  sum  paid  said  superintendent  to  the  amount 
certified  by  the  joint  committee  to  the  town  treasurer,  and 
said  proportion  to  be  paid  by  any  town  may  be  paid  out  of 
an  appropriation  for  the  salaries  of  town  officers  or  out  of  a 
special  appropriation  for  the  purpose  or  out  of  both,  but  it 
shall  not  be  paid  from  any  appropriation  made  for  the  sup- 
port or  maintenance  of  common  schools  or  high  schools. 

II.  Conference  of  instruction  shall  be  held.  The  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  annually  hold  a  con- 
ference for  the  instruction  of  superintendents  serving  under 
the  provisions  of  the  three  preceding  sections ;  he  may  ex- 
pend not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  out  of  the  appropri- 
ation for  the  superintendence  of  towns  composing  school 
unions,  to  assist  in  defraying  the  mileage  expenses  of  those 
superintendents  who  live  remote  from  the  place  of  such  con- 
ference ;  but  no  superintendent  shall  be  entitled  to  any  part 
of  such  expenses  unless  he  shall  regularly  attend  all  sessions 
of  such  conference. 

Sec.  59.  I.  State  superintendent  to  make  regulations 
under  which  certificates  shall  be  issued.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  59. 
1917,  c.  188,  §  6.  Persons  employed  to  serve  as  superintend- 
ents of  schools  under  section  fifty-six  and  section  fifty-seven 
shall  hold  state  certificates  of  superintendence  grade  which 
shall  be  issued  under  such  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools ;  they  shall  de- 
vote their  entire  time  to  superintendence  in  the  towns  com- 
posing the  union ;  provided,  however,  that  they  may,  without 
violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  section,  perform  such  edu- 
cational service  outside  of  the  towns  of  their  unions  as  may 
be  performed  with  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools  and  with  the  consent  of  the  committees 
employing  them. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  29 

II.  Powers  and  duties  enumerated.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  59. 
1917,  c.  188,  §  7.  A  superintendent  of  schools  employed  un- 
der the  provisions  of  sections  fifty-six  and  fifty-seven  shall 
have  the  following  powers  and  duties : 

(a)  Secretary  ex-officio.     He  shall  be  ex-officio,  secretary 
of  the  superintending  school  committee  and  of  any  school 
building  committee  chosen  by  the  town,  and  shall  perform 
such  duties  not  herein  enumerated  as  said  committee  shall 
direct. 

(b)  Auditor;    vouchers  to  be  approved  by  majority  of 
board.      He  shall   keep   a   permanent  record  of  all  its  votes, 
orders  and  proceedings;    he  shall  place  all  orders  for  mate- 
rials and  supplies  purchased  by  vote  of  the  committee  and 
shall  be  its    agent  in    keeping  all    financial  records  and    ac- 
counts.    He  shall  issue  vouchers  showing  the  correctness  of 
bills  contracted  on  account  of  school  appropriations,  but  such 
bills  shall  not  be  allowed  for  payment  by  the  municipal  offi- 
cers of  towns  unless  they  shall   have  been  approved  by  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

(c)  Shall  visit  the  schools;    annual  report.       He  shall 
examine  the   schools  and   inquire   into  the   regulations  and 
discipline  thereof,  and  the  proficiency  of  the  pupils,  for  which 
purposes  he   shall  visit  each  school   at  least  the   minimum 
number  of  times  each  term  which  the  joint  committee  may 
designate.     At  the   annual  town   meeting,  he  shall   make  a 
written  report  of  the  condition  of  the  schools  for  the  past 
year,  with  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  school  buildings, 
the  proficiency  made  by  the  pupils,  and  the  success  attend- 
ing the  modes  of  instruction  and  government  thereof,  and 
transmit  a  copy  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools. 

(d)  Shall  keep  account  of  finances  and  report  once  a  term, 
to  committee  of  respective  towns.     He  shall  keep  a  faithful 
and  accurate  account  of  school  finances  and  he  shall  report 
at  least  once  a  term  in  writing  to  each  of  the  several  commit- 
tees  of   the   supervisory   union,   including  in   such   report   a 
statement  of  the  condition  of  the  schools,  a  financial  state- 
ment, and  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  school  buildings 
and    outbuildings  in    the    matter  of    repair,  cleanliness    and 
sanitary  arrangements. 


30  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

< 

(e)  Shall  nominate  teachers;   election  to  be  approved  by 
committee.     He  shall  nominate  all  teachers  subject  to  such 
regulations  governing  salaries  and  the  qualifications  of  teach- 
ers as  the  superintending  school  committee  shall  make,  and 
upon  the  approval  of  nominations  by  said  committee  he  may 
employ  teachers  so  nominated  and  approved. 

(f)  Shall  supervise  work  of    teachers.     He    shall    direct 
and  supervise  the  work  of  all  teachers. 

(g)  Shall  select  and  purchase  textbooks  on  approval  of 
committee.     He  shall  select  textbooks,  supplies  and  appara- 
tus subject  to  the  approval  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee and  shall  make  all  purchases  of  the  same  under  such 
regulations   as   the    superintending   school   committee    shall 
adopt. 

(h)  Shall  distribute  and  account  for  supplies.  He  shall 
see  to  it  that  all  necessary  .apparatus  and  supplies  are  sea- 
sonably distributed  to  each  school  and  accurately  accounted 
for  and  economically  used. 

(i)  Shall  enforce  rules  of  committee.  He  shall  enforce 
or  cause  to  be  enforced  all  regulations  of  the  superintending 
school  committee. 

Sec.  60.  Appropriation  exclusive  of  amount  required  for 
common  school  purposes ;  forfeiture  for  violation.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  45-  1905,  c.  48,  §  8.  1909,  c.  122,  §  4.  No  town  shall 
receive  state  aid  under  section  fifty-seven  unless  its  appro- 
priation and  expenditure  for  superintendence  have  been 
exclusive  of  the  amount  required  by  law  for  common  school 
purposes.  If  any  part  of  the  money  raised  by  the  towns  or 
union  of  towns,  or  paid  to  them  by  the  state  for  superintend- 
ence, is  expended  for  any  other  purposes  than  those  pro- 
vided for  in  said  section,  then  each  person  so  misappropri- 
ating said  money  shall  forfeit  double  the  sum  so  misapplied, 
to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt  in  the  name  and  to  the 
use  of  the  town,  by  any  inhabitant  thereof;  and  no  town  or 
union  of  towns  shall  receive  further  aid  under  said  section 
until  the  amount  so  misapplied  has  been  raised  and  expended 
for  superintendence  by  such  town  or  union  of  towns. 

Sec.  61.  Provisions  made  applicable  to  remote  towns. 
State  superintendent  may  take  initiative  in  appointing  agent 
to  act  as  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  61.  1917,  c.  188,  §  8. 
Whenever  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  31 

find  on  investigation  that  any  town  or  plantation  is  so  sit- 
uated that  it  is  not  practicable  to  form  a  union  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  sections  fifty-five  to  sixty,  inclusive, 
he  may  place  at  the  service  of  the  committee  of  such  town 
or  plantation  the  general  agent  for  the  schooling  of  the  chil- 
dren in  unorganized  townships,  or  any  other  agent  of  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  who  shall,  when  so 
assigned,  serve  as  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  said  town 
or  plantation ;  when  the  said  agent  shall  so  serve  he  shall 
have  the  same  powers  and  shall  perform  the  same  service 
as  superintendent  of  schools  of  towns;  provided,  however, 
that  his  visits  to  the  schools  of  said  town  or  plantation  shall 
be  at  such  intervals  as  may  be  directed  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools. 

Sec.  62.  Reimbursements  to  be  added  to  appropriation 
for  union  school  superintendents ;  may  be  used  for  traveling 
expenses  of  agents.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  62.  1917,  c.  188,  §  9. 
Whenever  the  schools  of  any  town  or  plantation  shall  be 
placed  under  the  supervision  of  agents  of  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  as  provided  by  the  preceding  sec- 
tion the  treasurer  of  said  town  or  plantation  shall  pay  to  the 
treasurer  of  state  a  sum  which  shall  be  at  the  rate  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  annually  for  each  of  the  schools  of  said  town  or 
plantation  and  the  amount  so  received  by  the  treasurer  of 
state  shall  be  added  by  him  to  the  appropriation  for  the 
superintendence  of  towns  composing  school  unions  and  may 
be  used  for  defraying  the  traveling  expenses  of  agents  so> 
employed. 

Compulsory  Education. 

Sec.  63.  Towns  may  make  by-laws  concerning  truants; 
approval.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  46.  Towns  may  make  such  by-laws, 
not  repugnant  to  law,  concerning  habitual  truants,  and  chil- 
dren between  six  and  seventeen  years  of  ,age  not  attending 
school,  without  any  regular  and  lawful  occupation,  and  grow- 
ing up  in  ignorance,  as  are  most  conducive  to  their  welfare 
and  the  good  order  of  society;  and  may  annex  a  suitable 
penalty,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  for  any  breach  there- 
of; but  such  by-laws  must  be  first  approved  by  a  judge  of 
the  supreme  judicial  court. 
See  c.  4,  §  98,  ff  I. 


32  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  64.     Violation  of  by-laws.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  47.     Attend- 
ance officers  elected  as  provided  in  section  sixty-eight  shall 
alone  make  complaints  for  violations  of  said  by-laws,  and 
shall  execute  the  judgments  of  the  magistrate. 
65  Me.  130. 

Sec.  65.  Truant  children  may  be  placed  in  suitable  insti- 
tutions. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  48.  Said  magistrate,  in  place  of  fine, 
may  order  children  proved  to  be  growing  up  in  truancy,  and 
without  the  benefit  of  the  education  provided  for  them  by 
law,  to  be  placed  for  such  periods  as  he  thinks  expedient,  in 
the  institution  of  instruction,  house  of  reformation,  or  other 
suitable  situation  provided  for  the  purpose  under  section 
sixty-three. 

Sec.  66.  Children  between  certain  ages  required  to  attend 
school  unless  excused  or  excluded  by  committee;  penalty 
for  neglect.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  49.  1905,  c.  48,  §  9.  1909,  c,  57. 
1919,  c.  122.  Every  child  between  the  seventh  and  fifteenth 
anniversaries  of  his  birth  and  every  child  between  the  fif- 
teenth and  seventeenth  anniversaries  who  cannot  read  at 
sight  and  write  legibly  simple  sentences  in  the  English  lan- 
guage and  every  child  between  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 
anniversaries  who  has  not  completed  the' sixth  grade  of  the 
elementary  school,  shall  attend  some  public  day  school  dur- 
ing the  time  such  school  is  in  session,  and  an  absence  there- 
from of  one-half  day  or  more  shall  be  deemed  a  violation  of 
this  requirement;  provided,  that  necessary  absence  may  be 
excused  by  the  superintending  school  committee  or  superin- 
tendent of  schools  or  teachers  acting  by  the  direction  of 
either;  provided,  also,  that  such  attendance  shall  not  be 
required  if  the  child  obtained  equivalent  instruction,  for  a 
like  period  of  time,  in  a  private  school  in  which  the  course 
of  study  and  methods  of  instruction  have  been  approved  by 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  or  in  any  other 
manner  .arranged  for  by  the  superintending  school  committee 
with  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools ;  provided,  further,  that  children  shall  not  be  credited 
with  attendance  at  a  private  school  until  a  certificate  show- 
ing their  names,  residence  and  attendance  at  such  school 
signed  by  the  person  or  persons  having  such  school  in 
charge,  shall  be  filed  with  the  school  officials  of  the  town 
in  which  said  children  reside;  and  provided,  further,  that 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  33 

the  superintending  school  committee  may  exclude  from  the 
public  schools  any  child  whose  physical  or  mental  condition 
makes  it  inexpedient  for  him  to  attend.  All  persons  having 
children  under  their  control  shall  cause  them  to  attend  school 
as  provided  in  this  section,  and  for  every  neglect  of  such 
duty  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty-five 
dollars  or  shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days, 

See  c.  49,  §  21. 

Sec.  67.  Children  may  be  allowed  to  attend  school  in  ad- 
joining town,  on  terms  agreed  upon;  tuition.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  50. 
Children  living  remote  from  any  public  school  in  the  town 
in  which  they  reside  may  be  allowed  to  attend  the  public 
schools,  other  than  a  high  school  approved  as  provided  in 
section  eighty-five,  in  an  adjoining  town,  under  such  regula- 
tions and  on  such  terms  as  the  school  committees  of  said 
towns  agree  upon  and  prescribe,  and  the  school  committee 
of  the  town  in  which  such  children  reside  shall  pay  the  sum 
agreed  upon,  out  of  the  appropriations  of  money  raised  in 
said  town  for  school  purposes.  Except  as  above  provided, 
a  child  .attending  a  public  school,  other  than  a  high  school 
approved  as  provided  in  section  eighty-five,  in  a  town  in 
which  his  parent  or  legal  guardian  does  not  reside,  after  hav- 
ing obtained  the  consent  of  the  school  committee  of  such 
town,  shall  pay,  as  tuition,  a  sum  equal  to  the  average  ex- 
pense of  each  scholar  in  such  school. 

Sec.  68.  Election  of  attendance  officers;  their  authority 
and  duties ;  vacancies ;  penalty  for  neglect  of  duty.  R.  S.  c. 
J5,  §  5i-  1905,  c.  48,  §  10.  1909,0.238.  1911,0.113.  1913, 
c.  79.  The  superintending  school  committee  of  every  city 
and  town  shall  annually  elect  one  or  more  persons,  to  be 
designated  attendance  officers,  who  shall  inquire  into  all 
cases  of  neglect  of  the  duties  prescribed  in  section  sixty-six 
and  ascertain  the  reasons  therefor  and  shall  promptly  report 
the  same  to  the  superintending  school  committee,  and  such 
attendance  officers  or  any  of  them,  shall,  when  so  directed 
by  the  school  committee  or  superintendent,  in  writing,  prose- 
cute in  the  name  of  the  state  any  person  neglecting  to  per- 
form the  duties  prescribed  in  said  section,  by  promptly 
entering  a  complaint  before  a  magistrate;  and  said  officer 
shall,  when  notified  by  .any  teacher  that  any  pupil  is  irregu- 
lar in  attendance,  arrest  and  take  such  pupil  to  school  when 
3 


34  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

found  truant;  and  further,  such  officers  shall  enforce  the 
provisions  of  sections  one  hundred  forty-nine  to  one  hundred 
fifty-one,  inclusive,  of  this  chapter.  Attendance  officers, 
when  so  directed  in  writing  by  the  superintendent  of  schools 
or  the  superintending  school  committee  of  their  respective 
towns  may  visit  the  manufacturing,  mechanical,  mercan- 
tile and  other  business  establishments  in  their  several  cities 
and  towns  during  the  hours  in  which  the  public  schools  of 
such  city  or  town  are  in  session,  and  ascertain  whether  any 
minors  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  are  employed  therein, 
and  shall  report  in  writing  any  cases  of  such  employment 
to  the  superintendent  of  schools  or  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  their  city  or  town ;  and  if  any  minors  are  em- 
ployed therein  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  chapter  forty- 
nine,  they  shall  also  report  in  writing  such  illegal  employ- 
ment to  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry.  The 
owner,  superintendent,  overseer  or  agent  of  all  manufactur- 
ing, mechanical,  mercantile  or  other  business  establishments, 
upon  request  shall  produce  for  the  inspection  of  such  attend- 
ance officers  all  work  permits  and  vacation  permits  required 
to  be  kept  on  file  in  such  establishments  under  chapter  forty- 
nine.  Superintending  school  committees  shall  elect  attend- 
ance officers  at  their  first  meeting  after  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  town ;  they  shall  fill  any  vacancies  occurring  during  the 
year  and  they  may  fix  the  compensation  of  said  officers  and 
said  compensation  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriation  made 
for  the  salaries  of  municipal  officers.  Any  attendance  officer 
neglecting  any  duty  required  of  him  under  the  provisions  of 
this  chapter  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  ten,  nor 
more  than  fifty  dollars ;  and  any  towrn  failing  through  its 
superintending  school  committee  to  meet  said  provisions 
shall  be  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section  nineteen  of  this 
chapter. 

Sec.  69.  Habitual  truant;  attendance  officer  shall  make 
complaint.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  52.  1913,  c.  i.  If  a  child  without 
sufficient  excuse,  shall  be  habitually  and  wilfully  absent  from 
school  or  shall  fail  without  such  excuse  to  attend  school  for 
five  day  sessions  or  for  ten  half-day  sessions  within  any 
period  of  six  months,  he  shall  be  deemed  an  habitual  truant ; 
and  the  superintending  school  committee  shall  notify  him 
and  any  person  under  whose  control  he  may  be  that  unless 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  35 

he  conforms  to  section  sixty-six,  the  provisions  of  the  two 
following  sections  will  be  enforced  against  them;  and  if 
thereafter  such  child  continues  irregular  in  attendance,  the 
attendance  officers  or  any  of  them  shall,  when  so  directed 
by  the  superintending  school  committee  or  superintendent, 
in  writing,  enforce  said  provisions  by  complaint. 

Sec.  70.  Persons  responsible  for  truancy  punished.  R.  S. 
c.  J5>  §  53-  1905,  c.  48,  §  ii.  Any  person  having  control  of 
a  child,  who  is  an  habitual  truant,  as  defined  in  the  forego- 
ing section,  and  being  in  any  way  responsible  for  such  tru- 
ancy, and  any  person  who  induces  a  child  to  absent  himself 
from  school,  or  harbors  or  conceals  such  child  when  he  is 
absent,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dol- 
lars or  shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

Sec.  71.  Habitual  truants  may  be  committed  to  state 
institutions;  attendance  officer  may  execute  warrants.  R. 
S.  c.  15,  §  54.  1905,  c.  48,  §  12.  On  complaint  of  the  attend- 
ance officer,  an  habitual  truant,  if  a  boy,  may  be  committed 
to  the  state  school  for  boys,  or  if  a  girl,  to  the  state  school  • 
for  girls,  or  to  any  truant  school  that  may  hereafter  be  estab- 
lished. Municipal  and  police  courts  and  trial  justices  shall 
have  jurisdiction  of  such  complaint  and  of  the  offenses  de- 
scribed in  sections  sixty-six,  sixty-eight  and  seventy.  All 
warrants  issued  by  said  courts  or  trial  justices  upon  such 
complaint,  or  for  an  offense  committed  under  said  sections, 
and  all  legal  processes  issued  by  said  courts  or  trial  justices 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the  provisions  of  this 
section  and  of  said  sections  sixty-six,  sixty-eight  and  seventy, 
may  be  directed  to  and  executed  by  the  attendance  officer, 
or  either  of  the  attendance  officers,  of  the  town  where  the 
offense  is  committed.  All  fines,  collected  under  said  two  last 
named  sections,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  city  or 
town  in  which  the  offense  is  committed,  for  the  support  of 
the  public  schools  therein. 

NOTE— ^Probation  officers  have  authority  of  attendance  officers,  c.  137, 
§23. 

Free  High  Schools,  Academies  and  Seminaries. 

Sec.  73.     Classification  of  high  schools.     1909,  c.  71,  §  i. 
1919,  c.  98.     No  school  shall  be  regarded  as  a  high  school 


36  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

within  the  meaning  of  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  chapter 
unless  such  school  shall  be  included  in  the  following  classes: 

Class  A.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools  as  maintain 
at  least  one  approved  course  of  study  through  four  years  of 
thirty-six  weeks  each  and  of  standard  grade,  together  with 
approved  laboratory  equipment,  and  shall  employ  at  least 
two  teachers ;  provided,  the  town,  precinct  or  union  maintain- 
ing such  school  shall  appropriate  and  expend  for  instruction 
therein  at  least  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  annually  ex- 
clusive of  all  tuition  received. 

Class  B.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools  as  maintain 
one  approved  course  of  study  through  at  least  two  years  of 
thirty-six  weeks  and  of  standard  grade,  together  with  ap- 
proved equipment,  provided,-  the  town,  precinct  or  union 
maintaining  such  school  shall  appropriate  and  expend  for  in- 
struction therein  at  least  five  hundred  dollars  annually  ex- 
clusive of  all  tuition  received. 

Junior  High  School.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools 
as  maintain  a  diversified  program  of  studies  approved  by  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  for  such  grades  or 
years  as  he  shall  prescribe,  throughout  a  school  year  of  at 
least  thirty-six  weeks,  provided,  that  the  last  two  years  of  the 
elementary  schools  and  not  more  than  two  grades  or  years 
of  the  high  school  may  be  included  in  such  a  school,  and  pro- 
vided that  the  cost  of  maintenance  may  be  taken  from  high 
school  funds,  or  from  high  school  funds  and  common  school 
funds  combined,  in  proportion  to  the  cost  of  maintenance  of 
the  several  grades.  A  school  of  this  class  may  be  main- 
tained in  connection  with  or  as  a  part  of  a  high  school  as 
provided  in  Class  A  of  this  section. 

Sec.  75.  Town  not  obliged  to  pay  tuition  under  sections 
85  and  86.  1909,  c.  71,  §  3.  1917,  c.  67.  1919,  c.  98.  A 
town,  precinct  or  union  maintaining  a  high  school,  as  pro- 
vided in  Class  A  of  section  seventy-three,  shall  not  be  obliged 
to  pay  tuition  under  sections  eighty-five  and  eighty-six  of 
this  chapter.  A  town,  precinct  or  union  maintaining  a  high 
school  as  provided  in  Class  B  of  section  seventy-three  or  a 
junior  high  school  as  provided  in  the  same  section  shall  not 
be  obliged  to  pay  tuition  for  any  pupil  until  he  has  completed 
that  part  of  the  course  of  said  school  approved  by  the  state 
superintendent  of  schools,  or  the  equivalent  thereof. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  37 


Sec.  76.  Schools  shall  be  inspected.  1909,  c.  71,  §  4. 
c.  193.  1917,  c.  43.  All  schools  of  secondary  grade  receiving 
state  aid  shall  be  inspected  under  the  direction  of  the  state 
superintendent,  of  public  schools,  and  for  this  purpose  he 
'shall  be  authorized  to  expend  not  to  exceed  four  thousand 
dollars  annually,  which  sum  shall  be  paid  from  the  state 
appropriation  for  the  support  of  high  schools;  and  he  shall 
determine  what  schools  are  included  in  the  classification  of 
section  seventy-three,  what  schools  maintain  the  courses  of 
study,  what  schools  are  entitled  to  state  aid  and  what  schools 
maintain  approved  courses  for  the  reception  of  tuition 
scholars. 

Sec.  78.  Free  high  schools,  number  in  any  town  limited; 
adjoining  towns  may  maintain  high  schools;  conveyance  of 
pupils;  towns  shall  receive  and  expend  gifts,  bequests  and 
funds  surrendered  by  academies  ;  state  aid  ;  penalty  for  mis- 
application of  money  appropriated  by  state.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  56. 
1909,  c.  148.  Any  town  may  establish  and  maintain  not  ex- 
ceeding two  free  high  schools  ;  (and  in  such  case  shall  receive 
the  same  state  aid  as  if  the  expenditure  for  both  schools  had 
been  made  for  one.)  Two  or  more  adjoining  towns  may 
unite  in  establishing  and  maintaining  a  free  high  school,  (and 
both  shall  receive  the  same  state  aid  as  if  such  school  had 
been  maintained  by  one  town.)  Any  town  may,  in  addition 
to  the  sums  raised  for  the  support  of  high  and  common 
schools,  raise  and  appropriate  a  sum  for  the  payment  of  con- 
veyance of  pupils  attending  secondary  schools,  said  sum  to 
be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  superintending  school 
committee.  Towns  shall  receive  in  trust  and  faithfully  ex- 
pend gifts  and  bequests  made  to  aid  in  the  maintenance  of 
free  high  schools,  and  shall  receive  aid  in  such  cases  to  the 
same  extent  and  on  the  same  conditions  as  if  such  schools 
had  been  established  and  maintained  by  taxation  ;  and  any 
town  shall  receive  such  state  aid  on^  any  expenditure  for  a 
free  high  school  or  schools,  made  from  the  funds  or  proceeds 
of  the  real  estate  of  an  academy  or  incorporated  institution 
of  learning,  surrendered  or  transferred  to  such  town  for  edu- 
cational purposes  ;  but  if  any  part  of  the  money  so  paid  by 
the  state  is  expended  for  any  other  purpose  than  the  support 
of  such  free  high  schools,  as  provided  by  this  section,  then 
each  person  so  misapplying  said  money  forfeits  double  the 


38  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

sum  so  misapplied,  to  be 'recovered  in  an  action  of  debt,  in 
the  name  and  to  the  use  of  the  town,  by  any  inhabitant 
thereof ;  and  no  town  shall  receive  further  support  from  the 
state  for  any  free  high  school,  until  the  amount  so  received, 
but  misapplied,  has  been  raised  and  expended  for  such  free' 
high  schools  by  such  town. 

Sec.  79.  Free  high  school  precincts,  their  organization, 
and  continuance  from  year  to  year;  sections  of  adjoining 
towns  may  organize  precincts.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  57.  The  in- 
habitants of  any  section  of  a  town  which  fails  or  neglects  to 
provide  for  the  maintenance  of  free  high  schools,  may  organ- 
ize a  free  high  school  precinct  in  the  manner  hereinafter 
provided,  and  may  establish  and  maintain  a  free  high  school 
therein,  and  receive  state  aid  the  same  as  the  town  might 
have  done;  provided,  that  no  more  than  two  such  free  high 
schools  shall  be  established  in  any  town,  and  that  the  amount 
of  aid  extended  to  the  precincts  in  any  town  shall  not  exceed 
the  sum  that  the  town  might  have  received.  On  petition  of 
any  five  voters  resident  in  said  section,  reciting  the  limits 
of  the  precinct  proposed,  the  municipal  officers  of  the  town 
shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  voters  within  said  limits  by  caus- 
ing notices,  specifying  the  time,  place  and  purposes  of  said 
meeting,  to  be  posted  in  two  or  more  conspicuous  places 
within  said  limits  seven  days  before  the  time  appointed. 
Said  meeting  shall  choose  a  moderator  and  a  clerk  who  shall 
be  sworn,  and  shall,  by  a  majority  vote  of  those  present  and 
voting,  determine  whether  said  precinct  shall  be  organized. 
It  shall  choose  an  agent  who  shall  be  duly  sworn.  Such  pre- 
cinct may  continue  its  organization  from  year  to  year  by  the 
holding  of  meetings  called  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  so  long 
as  the  town  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  support  free  high 
schools.  Sections  of  adjoining  towns  may  organize  as  herein 
provided,  and  unite  in  the  support  of  such  schools.  Butxno 
more  than  two  such  precincts  shall  exist  at  the  same  time  in 
any  town. 

Sec.  80.  Location  of  school;  schoolrooms,  how  supplied 
and  furnished,  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  58.  Any  town,  precinct  or 
union  of  towns  or  precincts,  voting  to  establish  a  free  high 
school  as  herein  provided,  may  locate  the  same  permanently, 
or  vote  that  the  terms  thereof  be  held  alternately  in  such 
places  within  the  town  or  towns,  precinct  or  precincts,  as 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 


39 


may  be  selected,  and  as  may  accept  said  school.  The  town 
or  precinct,  in  which  said  school  is  thus  held,  shall  supply 
appropriate  equipments,  and  furnish  and  warm  a  suitable 
building  for  the  same ;  provided  that  any  schoolhouse  within 
such  town  or  precinct  may  be  used  for  such  free  high  school, 
when  not  required  for  ordinary  school  purposes. 

Sec.  81.  Course  of  study.  Schools  to  be  free  to  the  youth 
in  any  town  or  union  of  towns,  precincts  or  union  of  pre- 
cincts ;  admission  of  pupils  from  without  towns  or  precincts. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  59.  The  course  of  study  in  the  free  high  schools, 
shall  embrace  the  ordinary  English  academic  studies  which 
are  taught  in  secondary  schools,  especially  the  natural  sci- 
ences in  their  application  to  mechanics,  manufactures  and 
agriculture ;  but  the  ancient  or  modern  languages  and  music 
shall  not  be  taught  therein  except  by  direction  of  the  super- 
•initending  school  committees  having  supervision  thereof., 
Such  schools,  when  established  by  any  town  or  union  of 
towns,  shall  be  free  to  all  the  youth  in  such  town  or  towns 
who  have  such  scholastic  attainments  as  will  fit  them  to  at- 
tend such  schools  with  profit,  and  the  superintendent,  or 
superintending  school  committee,  having  supervision  thereof 
shall  make  such  examination  of  candidates  for  admission  to 
said  schools  as  they  consider  necessary. 

When  such  school  is  established  by  any  precinct  or  union 
of  precincts,  it  shall  be  free  in  the  same  manner  to  the 
scholars,  within  such  precincts,  and  open  also  to  scholars 
passing  the  required  examination  from  without  such  pre- 
cincts, but  within  the  towns  in  which  said  precincts  are 
situated,  on  payment  to  the  agent  of  the  precinct  in  which 
such  school  is  located,  of  such  tuition,  to  be  fixed  by  the 
superintending  school  committee  or  committees  having1 
supervision  of  the  same,  as  is  equivalent  to  the  cost  a  Scholar 
of  maintaining  such  school,  after  deducting  the 'aid  extended 
by  the  state.  Whenever  in  the  judgment  of  the  superintend- 
ing school  committees  having  the  supervision  of  any  free 
high  school  or  schools,  the  number  of  pupils  in  the  same  may 
be  increased  without  detriment,  scholars  from  without  the 
towns  directly  interested  in  such  school  or  schools,  may  be 
admitted  to  the  same  on  passing  the  required  examination 
and  paying  such  tuition  as  may  be  fixed  by  such  committee, 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  town  in  which  the  school  is  kept, 


40  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

when  the  school  is  maintained  by  a  town  or  union  of  towns, 
or  to  the  agent  of  the  precinct  in  which  the  school  is  kept, 
when  such  school  is  maintained  by  a  precinct  or  union  of 
precincts. 

Sec.  82.  Free  high  schools  subject  to  the  school  laws, 
except  in  certain  cases;  their  management  and  supervision. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  60.  Free  high  schools,  established  and  main- 
tained under  the  foregoing  provisions,  are  subject  to  the  laws 
relating  to  common  schools,  so  far  as  applicable,  except  as 
otherwise  provided.  When  established  and  maintained  by 
a  town,  they  shall  be  under  the  supervision  and  entire  man- 
agement of  the  superintending  school  committee  of  such 
town.  When  established  and  maintained  by  a  union  of 
towns,  such  school  shall  be  under  the  supervision  and  entire 
management  of  the  school  committees  of  such  towns,  who 
constitute  a  joint  board  for  that  purpose.  When  established 
and  maintained  by  any  precinct,  such  school  shall  be  under 
the  supervision  of  the  superintending  school  committee  of 
such  town,  or  of  the  state  superintendent,  when  the  precinct 
so  elects,  and  under  the  financial  management  of  the  agent  of 
the  precinct,  who,  in  connection  with  said  committee  or 
superintendent,  shall  employ  teachers  for  the  same.  When 
established  and  maintained  by  precincts  composed  of  sections 
of  adjoining  towns,  such  school  shall  be  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  the  superintending  school  committees  of  such  towns, 
who  constitute  a  joint  board  for  that  purpose,  and  under  the 
financial  management  of  the  agents  of  both  precincts,  who, 
in  connection  with  said  committees,  shall  employ  the 
teachers. 

Sec.  83.  Towns  may  raise  money  to  maintain  free  high 
schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  61.  Towns  and  precincts  may  raise 
money  for  establishing  and  maintaining  free  high  schools, 
and  erecting  buildings  and  providing  equipment  for  the 
same,  in  the  same  manner  as  for  supporting  common  schools 
and  erecting  schoolhouses. 

Sec.  84.  Provisions  for  pupils  in  towns  having  no  free 
high  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  62.  1905,  c.  48,  §  13.  1911,  c.  88, 
1915,  c.  66.  Any  town  which  does  not  maintain  a  free  high 
school  of  standard  grade  may,  from  year  to  year,  authorize 
its  superintending  school  committee  to  contract  with  and 
pay  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  adjoining 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  41 

town  or  the  trustees  of  any  academy  located  within  such 
town  or  in  an  adjoining  town,  for  the  tuition  of  scholars 
within  said  town  in  the  studies  contemplated  by  the  eleven 
preceding  sections.  When  such  contract  has  been  made  with 
ihe  trustees  of  an  academy,  a  joint  committee  for  the  selec- 
tion of  teachers  and  the  arrangement  of  the  course  of  study 
in  such  academy  shall  include  the  superintending  school 
committees  of  the  contracting  towns  with  an  equal  number 
of  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  such  academy  when 
such  academy  has  less  than  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 
endowment.  The  expenditure  of  any  town  for  tuition  as 
provided  in  this  section  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  condi- 
tions and  shall  entitle  such  town  to  the  same  state  aid  as 
if  it  had  made  such  expenditure  for  a  free  high  school. 

Sec.  85.  A  youth  residing  in  a  town  not  supporting  a 
secondary  school,  may  attend  such  school  elsewhere;  tuition 
shall  be  paid  by  town;  free  tuition  while  youth  maintains 
satisfactory  standards.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  63.  1907,  c.  73.  1909, 
c.  116.  1913,  c.  57.  1915,  c.  223.  1917,  c.  229,  1919,  c,  96. 
Any  youth  who  resides  .with  a  parent  or  guardian  in  any 
town  which  does  not  support  and  maintain  a  standard  sec- 
ondary school,  may  attend  any  approved  secondary  school 
to  which  he  may  gain  entrance  by  permission  of  those  hav- 
ing charge  thereof,  provided  the  said  youth  shall  attend  a 
school  or  schools  whose  courses  are  approved  by  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools,  and  in  such  case  the  tuition 
of  said  youth  shall  be  paid  by  the  town  in  which  he  resides 
as  aforesaid,  (chapter  173)  said  tuition  so  paid,  shall  be  made 
a  part  of  the  school  fund  of  the  town  receiving  the  same; 
and  towns  shall  raise  annually,  as  other  school  moneys  are 
raised,  a  sum  sufficient  to  pay  such  tuition  charges;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  no  youth  shall  be  entitled  to  free  tuition 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  unless  he  shall  have  sat- 
isfactorily passed  an  examination  in  common  school  branches, 
said  examination  having  been  given  under  the  direction  of 
the  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  town  wherein  such 
youth  resides,  on  papers  procured  from  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools,  or  unless  such  youths  shall  have 
satisfactorily  completed  a  standard  common  school  course 
of  study  which  has  been  approved  by  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools ;  except  that  any  youth  who  has  satis- 


42  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

factorily  completed  the  course  of  a  B  class  or  junior  high 
school,  as  provided  by  section  seventy-three,  shall  be  entitled 
to  this  free  tuition,  as  hereinbefore  provided,  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  four  years  of  a  standard  secondary  course 
without  the  examination  herein  prescribed ;  provided,  fur- 
ther, that  such  free  tuition  privilege  shall  continue  only  so 
long  as  said  youth  shall  maintain  a  satisfactory  standard  of 
deportment  and  scholarship.  Any  youth  who  otherwise 
meets  the  requirements  of  this  section  with  reference  to 
admission  to  secondary  schools  shall  be  entitled  to  the  pay- 
ment of  his  tuition,  as  herein  provided,  in  any  high  school 
of  the  B  class  or  junior  high  school  for  such  part  of  the 
course  of  such  high  school  as  may  be  approved  as  equiva- 
lent in  grade  to  the  corresponding  years  of  a  standard  sec- 
ondary course.  Superintendents  of  schools  shall  issue  cer- 
tificates of  free  tuition  privilege  to  persons  who  may  be 
entitled  to  free  tuition  under  the  provisions  of  this  section. 
Any  school  receiving  tuition  pupils  under  the  provisions  of 
this  section  shall  provide,  without  additional  charge,  all 
textbooks,  apparatus  and  appliances  used  by  said  pupils,  sub- 
ject to  the  provisions  of  sections  twenty-two  to  tweny-four, 
inclusive,  of  this  chapter. 

100  Me.  549:     101  Me.  553. 

Sec.  87.  Returns  to  state  superintendent  of  expenditure 
for  free  high  schools ;  state  superintendent  to  certify  amounts 
to  which  towns  are  entitled ;  appeal  to  governor  and  council ; 
penalty  for  defrauding  state.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  65.  1909,  c.  28. 
Superintendents  shall,  annually,  before  the  first  day  of  July, 
make  returns  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  on  blanks  prepared  and  sent  out  by  him,  of  the 
amount  appropriated  and  the  amount  expended  by  each 
town  or  precinct  for  instruction  in  such  free  high  schools 
during  the  current  year;  also  of  the  amount  appropriated  and 
the  amount  expended  for  common  school  purposes  by  each 
town  maintaining  the  same;  the  number  of  weeks  during 
which  such  schools  have  been  taught;  the  wages  paid  each 
teacher ;  the  number  of  pupils  registered ;  the  average  attend- 
ance ;  the  number  of  pupils  in  each  branch  of  study  pursued, 
and  the  amount  received  for  tuition.  If  the  state  superin- 
tendent is  satisfied  that  the  provisions  of  sections  seventy- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  43 

two  to  eighty-four  have  been  complied  with/  he  shall  certify 
to  the  governor  and  council  the  sum  which  each  town  or 
precinct  is  entitled  to  receive  from  the  state;  provided  that 
in  case  any  town  has  failed  to  comply  with  any  of  said  pro- 
visions by  reason  of  circumstances  beyond  its  control  he 
may,  after  proper  investigation  certify  such  part  of  the  high 
school  aid  as  circumstances  may  justify.  Any  town  or 
precinct,  dissatisfied  with  ,his  decision,  may  appeal  to  the 
governor  and  council,  and  the  governor  and  council  shall 
issue  a  certificate  to  the  treasurer  of  (the  town  or  agent  of 
the  precinct,  for  such  amount  as  they  adjudge  such  town  or 
precinct  entitled  to  receive  from  the  state  treasury.  Any 
person  connected  with  the  management  of  such  free  high 
schools,  either  as  teacher,  agent  or  superintendent,  who  in 
any  way  aids  or  abets  in  defrauding  the  state  into  the  pay- 
ment in  support  of  said  schools  of  more  than  is  contem- 
plated by  this  chapter,  shall  forfeit  not  less  than  five  hundred 
dollars,  or  be  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  not  less  than 
one  year. 

Sec.  88.  High  school  precinct  taxes,  how  assessed  and 
collected.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  66.  When  a  free  high  school  pre- 
cinct votes  to  raise  *money  for  establishing  and  maintaining  a 
free  high  school,  its  clerk  shall  forthwith,  or  within  the  time 
prescribed  by  the  precinct,  certify  the  amount  thereof  to  the 
assessors  of  the  town,  and  the  time  when  it  must  be  raised ; 
and  within  sixty  days  after  receiving  such  certificate  they 
shall  assess  it  as  they  do  town  taxes,  on  the  polls  and  estates 
of  the  residents  and  owners  in  the  precinct  at  the  time  of  rais- 
ing said  money,  whether  wholly  in  this  town  or  not,  and  on 
the  non-resident  real  estate  in  the  precinct.  They  shall  then 
make  their  warrant  in  due  form  of  law,  directed  to  any  col- 
lector of  their  town,  if  any,  if  not  to  a  constable,  requiring 
l.iim  to  levy  and  collect  such  tax  and  pay  it  to  the  town  treas- 
urer within  the  time  limited  in  the  warrant;  and  they  shall 
give  a  certificate  of  the  assessment  to  such  treasurer,  and 
may  abate  such  taxes  as  in  the  case  of  town  taxes. 

12  Me.  258;  15  Me.  260;  28  Me.  203;  31  Me.  284;  35  Me.  397;  39 
Me.  187;  41  Me.  505;  51  'Me.  102;  60  Me.  280;  74  Me.  "411. 

Sec.  89.  Assessors  authorized  to  assess  overlay.  R.  S.  c. 
J5»  §  67.  The  assessors  may  include  in  their  assessment  such 
sum  over  and  above  the  sum  committed  to  them  to  assess, 


44  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

uot  exceeding  five  per  cent  thereof,  as  a  fractional  division 
renders  necessary,  and  certify  that  fact  to  the  town  treasurer. 

Sec.  90.  Expense  of  assessment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  68.  The 
town  treasurer  shall  pay  the  expense  of  assessing  and  collect- 
ing any  free  high  school  precinct  tax  out  of  the  money  of  the 
precinct,  upon  the  order  of  the  selectmen. 

73  Me.  181. 

Sec.  91.  Precinct  taxes  assessed  without  authority.  R.  S. 
c.  15,  §  69.  Section  thirty-one  of  chapter  eleven,  and  all 
other  sections  relating  to  the  same  subject  apply  to  taxes 
assessed  by  or  for  free  high  school  precincts,  so  far  as  appli- 
cable; but  the  precinct  and  not  the  town  is  liable. 

77  Me.  415- 

Sec.  92.  Powers  and  duties  of  collectors ;  their  compensa- 
tion. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  70.  The  collector  or  constable,  and  the 
town  treasurer,  or  treasurer  and  collector,  if  one  person  is 
both,  each  have  the  same  powers  and  are  subject  to  the  same 
duties  and  obligations  in  relation  to  free  high  school  pre- 
cinct taxes,  as  to  town  taxes ;  and  they  and  the  assessors  shall 
be  allowed  by  the  precinct  for  their  services,  a  compensation 
proportionate  to  what  they  receive  from  the  town  for  similar 
services. 

31  Me.  281;     41  Me.  247;    67  Me.  240. 

Sec.  93.  Money  at  disposal  of  agent.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  71. 
the  money  so  raised  and  paid  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
precinct  agent,  to  be  by  him  expended  as  provided  in  section 
eighty-two. 

Sec.  94.  Trustees  of  academies,  etc.,  may  surrender  prop- 
erty to  establish  free  high  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  72.  The 
trustees  of  any  academy  or  other  corporation  formed  for 
educational  purposes  may  by  a  majority  vote  of  such  of  said 
trustees  as  reside  in  the  state,  surrender  the  whole,  or  any 
part  of  the  property  belonging  thereto,  to  the  municipal  offi- 
cers of  any  town,  or  the  trustees  of  any  school  fund  in  any 
town  in  which  said  academy  or  corporation  is  situated,  for 
turning  the  same  into  a  free  high  school  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, and  said  municipal  officers  or  trustees,  for  the  time 
being,  shall  i>e  a  board  of  trustees  to  take  and  hold  said  prop- 
erty for  maintaining  a  free  high  school;  and  upon  receiving 
said  property,  they  shall  use  proper  diligence  to  make  the 
same  produce  income  for  the  support  of  said  free  high  school. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  45 

Sec.    95.     Property,    how   conveyed.     R.    S.    c.    15,    §    73. 

When  such  vote  is  so  passed,  the  treasurer  of  said  trustees 
shall  convey,  assign  and  deliver  to  the  municipal  officers  of 
said  town,  or  the  trustees  of  such  fund,  all  property  belong- 
ing to  said  academy  or  corporation  for  the  purposes  indicated 
by  the  preceding  section. 

Sec.  96.  Income  of  property,  how  applied;  qualifications 
of  pupils,  how  determined.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  74.  1913,  c  70, 
§  i.  The  municipality  accepting  the  property  in  trust,  as 
named  in  section  ninety-four,  shall  apply  the  income  thereof 
towards  the  support  of  a  free  high  school  to  be  kept  within 
said  municipality,  within  the  requirements  of  the  laws  re- 
lating to  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  free  high 
schools,  and  provide  suitable  accommodations  for  the  same; 
the  superintending  school  committee  in  said  municipality 
shall  determine  the  qualifications  necessary  to  entitle  any 
applicant  to  enter  or  attend  said  free  high  school,  and  no  one 
shall  attend  it  without  certificate  of  said  officers  to  that  effect. 

Sec.  97.  Tuition  to  be  paid  by  non-residents.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  75.  All  scholars  residing  within  the  municipality  afore- 
said, having  such  certificate,  may  attend  said  school  without 
tuition  fee,  and  all  scholars  not  residents  of  said  municipality, 
may  attend  said  school  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as 
said  superintending  school  committee  may  impose. 

Sec.  98.  (State  aid  to  academies.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  76.  1907, 
c.  102,  §  i.  Whenever  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the 
governor  and  council,  from  returns  made  as  herein  provided, 
that  any  incorporated  academy  in  the  state  is  prepared  to 
give  instruction  equivalent  to  that  required  by  law  to  be 
given  in  free  high  schools,  that  the  pupils  attending  the  said 
academy  are  qualified  to  receive  such  instruction,  and  that 
the  teachers  in  the  said  academy  have  the  qualifications  fit- 
ting them  to  give  instruction  in  secondary  school  studies, 
such  academy  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  annually  from  the 
state  a  sum  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  in  case  it 
maintains  an  English  secondary  school  course  of  study  as 
prescribed  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  or 
a  sum  not  exceeding  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  case 
it  maintains  in  addition  to  an  English  course  a  college  pre- 
paratory course,  or  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars 
in  case  it  maintains  an  English  course,  a  college  prepara- 


46  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

tory  course  and  a  training  course  for  teachers ;  provided, 
that  the  courses  of  study  herein  named  shall  be  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools,  and  provided,  that  the  amount  paid  by  the  state  to 
any  academy  under  this  'section  shall  be  expended  by  the 
said  academy  for  instruction  during  the  year  for  which  pay- 
ment is  made,  and  shall  not  exceed  the  total  income  of  the 
said  academy  from  all  other  sources;  and  provided,  further, 
that  in  addition  to  the  amount  received  from  the  state,  a  sum 
equal  thereto  shall  be  expended  for  instruction  and  mainte- 
nance of  the  academy  during  said  year;  and  provided,  fur- 
ther, that  every  academy  receiving  money  from  the  state 
under  this  section  shall  provide  instruction  as  contemplated 
by  this  section  for  not  less  than  thirty  weeks  in  each  year; 
and  provided,  further,  that  no  academy  shall  be  credited  with 
maintaining  a  course  of  study  under  this  section  unless  the 
said  academy  shall  have  an  average  of  not  less  than  twelve 
students  in  said  course. 

Sec.  99.  Mode  of  payment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  77.  The  gov- 
ernor and  council  may  draw  warrants  on  the  treasurer  of 
state  for  the  payment  annually  to  the  legal  representatives 
of  such  academies,  as  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  money 
from  the  state  under  the  preceding  section,  at  the  times  and 
in  the  manner  provided  by  law  for  the  payment  of  money 
in  aid  of  free  high  schools,  of  the  amounts  to  which  they 
shall  be  severally  entitled  thereunder;  provided,  that  no 
payment  shall  be  made  to  any  academy  until  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  shall  have  certified  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  all  the  facts  which  by  law  are  made  neces- 
sary to  entitle  an  academy  to  receive  money  from  the  state 
under  the  preceding  section. 

Sec.  100.  Condition  of  state  aid.  R.  S.  c-  15,  §  78.  1913, 
c.  70,  §  2.  No  town  shall  receive  state  aid  under  the  pro- 
visions of  section  eighty-four  of  this  chapter  if  a  free  high 
school  of  standard  grade  is 'maintained  in  such  town. 

Sec.  101.  Incorporation.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  79.  1907,  c,  91. 
No  academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  sqction  ninety- 
eight  unless  incorporated  prior  to  May  one,  nineteen  hundred 
and  seven. 

Sec.  102.  Attendance.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  80.  1907,  c.  102,  §  2. 
No  academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  section  ninetv- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  47 

tight  unless  the  average  attendance  in  said  academy  for  the 
year  preceding  or  for  five  years  next  preceding,  shall  exceed 
thirty  students,  and  no  academy  shall  receive  to  exceed  five 
hundred  dollars  unless  the  average  attendance  in  said  acad- 
emy for  the  year  preceding  shall  exceed  sixty  students. 

Sec.  103.  Income.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  81.  1915,  c.  205.  No 
academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  section  ninety-eight  if 
said  academy  has  an  annual  income  from  invested  funds  ex- 
ceeding two  thousand  dollars ;  and  no  academy  shall  receive 
state  aid  to  exceed  five  hundred  dollars  in  any  given  year 
provided  the  said  academy  has  an  annual  income  from  in- 
vested funds  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars ;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  any  academy  with  a  larger  average  attendance  than 
two  hundred  shall  receive  such  aid  not  to  exceed  one  thou- 
sand dollars  if  its  annual  income  from  invested  funds,  after 
'  deducting  interest  paid  on  its  indebtedness,  does  not  exceed 
two  thousand  dollars. 

Sec.  104.  Institutions  receiving  state  aid  shall  make  re- 
port to  state  superintendent  of  public  schools;  construction 
of  terms.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  82.  1919,  c.  117.  Every  educational 
institution  receiving  state  aid,  and  the  officers  and  teachers  of 
every  academy  receiving  money  from  the  state,  and  of  every 
academy  or  private  school  approved  for  attendance  or  tuition 
purposes,  shall  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  August, 
report  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  the  total 
and  average  attendance,  an  account  of  the  moneys  received 
and  expended  during  the  preceding  year,  the  number  of  in- 
structors, and  such  schools  as  are  approved  for  state  aid  or 
tuition  purposes  and  shall  report  such  other  items  as  he  may 
require.  Such  reports  shall  be  published  in  the  annual  report 
of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools.  Every  such 
educational  institution  failing  to  comply  with  the  above  re- 
quirements shall  forfeit  whatever  aid  or  assistance  it  would 
otherwise  receive  from  the  state.  Wherever  in  sections 
ninety-eight  to  one  hundred  and  four,  inclusive,  the  word 
"academy"  occurs,  it  shall  be  construed  to  include  "seminary 
or  institute." 

Duties  and  Qualifications  of  Instructors. 

Sec.  105.  Presidents  of  colleges,  tenure  of  office.  R.  S.  c. 
Z5>  §  83.  Presidents  of  colleges  are  removable  at  the  pleas- 


48  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

are  of  the  trustees  and  overseers,  whose  concurrence  is  neces- 
sary for  their  election. 

Sec.  106.  Fees  for  degrees  conferred.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  84. 
No  officer  of  a  college  shall  receive  as  perquisites  any  fees  for 
a  diploma  or  medical  degree  conferred  by  such  college,  but 
such  fees  shall  be  paid  into  the  college  treasury. 

Sec.  107.  Teachers  shall  keep  school  register;  not  to  be 
paid  until  register  is  completed.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  85.  1909,  c.  74. 
1919,  c.  55.  Every  teacher  of  a  public  school  shall  keep  a 
register  thereof,  containing  the  names  of  all  scholars  who 
enter  the  school,  their  ages,  the  dates  of  each  scholar's  en- 
tering and  leaving,  the  number  of  days  during  which  each 
attended,  the  length  of  the  school,  the  teacher's  wages,  a  list 
of  textbooks  used,  and  all  other  facts  required  by  the  blank 
forms  furnished  him.  Such  register  shall  at  all  times  be 
open  to  the  inspection  of  the  superintending  school  commit- ' 
tee,  and  be  returned  to  them  at  the  close  of  the  school. 
Teachers  may  be  paid  for  their  services  at  the  close  of  each 
school  month,  or  at  such  shorter  intervals  as  the  committee 
may  determine,  but  no  teacher  shall  receive  final  payment 
for  services  for  any  term  until  the  register  herein  described, 
properly  filled,  completed  and  signed,  is  deposited  with  the 
school  committee,  or  with  the  person  designated  by  them  to 
receive  it.  Five  days  constitute  the  school  week,  and  four 
weeks  a  school  month. 

See  c.  49,  §  34;     63  Me.  244. 

Sec.  1 08.  Instructors  of  colleges,  etc.,  to  inculcate  moral- 
ity, justice,  truth,  industry  and  patriotism;  kindness  to  birds 
and  animals  shall  be  taught  in  public  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  86.  1917,  c.  228.  The  president,  professors  and  tutors  of 
colleges,  the  preceptors  and  teachers  of  academies,  and  all 
other  instructors  of  youth,  in  public  or  private  institutions, 
shall  use  their  best  endeavors  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
children  and  youth  committed  to  their  care  and  instruction, 
the  principles  of  morality  and  justice,  and  a  sacred  regard  for 
truth;  love  of  country,  humanity  and  a  universal  bene\o- 
lence  ;  sobriety,  industry  and  frugality  ;  chastity,  moderation 
and  temperance ;  and  all  other  virtues  which  ornament 
human  society;  and  to  lead  those  under  their  care,  as  their 
ages  and  capacities  admit,  into  a  particular  understanding 
of  the  tendency  of  such  virtues  to  preserve  and  perfect  a 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  49 

republican  constitution,  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,  and 
to  promote  their  future  happiness;  and  the  tendency  of  the 
opposite  vices,  to  slavery,  degradation  and  ruin ;  all  teachers 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  state  shall  devote  not  less  than 
one-half  hour  of  each  week  of  the  school  term,  to  teaching 
to  the  children  under  their  charge  in  correlation  with  other 
studies  of  the  school  curriculum,  the  great  principles  of 
humanity  as  illustrated  by  kindness  to  birds  and  animals  and 
regard  for  all  factors  which  contribute  to  the  well  being  of 
man. 

Sec.  109.  School  holidays.  Special  observance  of  Wash- 
ington's birthday  and  Columbus  day.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  88.  1905, 
c.  48,  §  14.  1907,  c.  48,  §  i.  1909,  c.  190,  §  i.  1911,  c.  23. 
3913,  c.  195.  The  following  days  shall  be  observed  as  school 
holidays,  namely  :  Washington's  birthday,  February  twenty- 
two  ;  Patriot's  day,  April  nineteen;  Memorial  day,  May 
thirty;  Independence  day,  July  four;  Labor  day,  first  Mon- 
day in  September;  Columbus  day,  October  12;  Christmas 
day,  December  twenty-five;  Thanksgiving  and  Arbor  day, 
as  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council.  Provided,  how- 
ever, that  Arbor  day  shall  not  be  recognized  as  a  school 
holiday  unless  observed  by  teacher  and  pupils  for  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  is  designated  by  the  governor  and  council. 
And  provided,  further,  that  Lincoln  day  shall  be  observed  by 
devoting  some  part  of  the  day  to  the  study  of  the  life  and 
character  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  All  teachers  of  public  schools 
in  the  state  may  close  their  schools  and  draw  pay  the  same 
as  if  their  schools  had  been  in  session  on  any  of  the  following 
days :  Patriot's  day,  April  nineteen ;  Memorial  day,  May 
thirty;  Independence  day,  July  four;  Labor  day,  first  Mon- 
day in  September;  Christmas  day,  December  twenty-five; 
Thanksgiving  day,  as  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council. 
When  any  one  of  the  above  named  holidays  falls  on  a  Sun- 
day, the  Monday  following  shall  be  observed  as  a  school  holi- 
day, with  all  the  privileges  applying  to  any  of  the  days  above 
named.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing  each  of  the  days  here- 
inafter named  shall,  upon  vote  of  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  any  town,  be  observed  by  teachers  and  pupils 
of  the  public  schools  of  said  town  by  an  exercise  appropriate 
thereto,  such  exercise  to  be  held  during  such  part  of  the 
school  session  as  the  teacher  of  each  school  may  designate. 
4 


50  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

The  exercises  so  held  shall  aim  to  impress  on  the  minds  of 
the  youth  the  important  lessons  of  character  and  good  citi- 
zenship to  be  learned  from  the  lives  of  American  leaders  and 
heroes  and  from  a  contemplation  of  their  own  duties  and 
obligations  to  the  community,  state  and  nation  of  which  they 
constitute  a  part.  In  the  absence  of  any  vote  of  the  super- 
intending school  committee  said  days,  hereinafter  designated, 
shall  be  observed  as  legal  school  holidays  with  the  closing 
of  schools.  The  days  thus  designated  for  school  observance 
upon  vote  of  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any 
town  shall  be  as  follows :  "Washington's  birthday,  February 
twenty-two;  Columbus  day,  October  twelve. 

Teachers'  Associations. 

Sec.  no.  Teachers  and  school  officers  may  form  asso- 
ciations for  improvement  in  art  of  teaching.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  89. 
1917,  c.  60.  1919,  c.  45.  'Whenever  not  less  than  thirty  of 
the  teachers  and  school  officers  of  any  county  shall  have 
formed  an  association  under  rules  of  government  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  for  the  purpose 
of  mutual  improvement  in  the  science  and  art  of  teaching, 
1  and  of  creating  popular  interest  in,  and  diffusing  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  best  methods  of  improving  our  public  school 
system,  by  the  holding  of  conventions  at  least  once  every 
year  under  the  supervision  of  the  state  superintendent,  the 
state  shall  defray  the  necessary  expenses  attending  the  hold- 
ing of  such  conventions.  Whenever  a  superintendent  of 
schools  shall  hold  a  meeting  or  institute  of  the  teachers  of 
several  towns  for  the  purpose  of  giving  instruction  in 
methods  of  teaching  or  the  conduct  of  schools  or  for  the 
training  of  teachers  already  in  service  in  a  manner  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  financial  assist- 
ance may  be  given  by  the  state  in  defraying  expenses  of  such 
meetings.  For  the  purpose  of  this  section  the  sum  of  four 
thousand  dollars  is  hereby  annually  appropriated  to  be  de- 
ducted and  set  aside  therefor  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from 
the  annual  school  fund  of  the  state. 

Sec.  in.  Teachers  may  suspend  schools  during  conven- 
tions. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  90.  Teachers  of  public  schools  may 
suspend  their  schools  for  not  more  than  two  days  in  any 
\ear  during  the  sessions  of  such  conventions  within  their 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  51 

counties  and  also  for  not  more  than  two  days  in  any  year 
during  the  sessions  of  any  state  teachers'  convention  ap- 
proved by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  unless 
otherwise  directed  in  writing  by  the  school  officers,  and 
attend  said  conventions  without  forfeiture  of  pay  for  the 
time  of  such  attendance,  provided  they  shall  present  to  the 
officers  employing  them,  certificates  signed  by  the  secretaries 
of  such  conventions  and  countersigned  by  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools,  showing  such  attendance. 

Sec.  112.  Governor  to  draw  warrants  to  pay  expenses. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  91.  1909,  c.  30.  The  governor  and  council 
may  draw  warrants  on  the  treasurer  of  state  for  the  pay- 
ment of  bills  for  the  expenses  provided  for  in  section  one 
hundred  and  ten,  when  such  bills  shall  have  been  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  no  bills  shall  be  so  paid  except  those  for  advertis- 
ing such  conventions,  and  for  services  and  actual  traveling 
expenses  of  speakers  and  lecturers  not  residing  in  the  coun- 
ties in  which  such  conventions  are  held. 

Schools  in  Plantations. 

Sec.  113.  Powers  of  plantations  to  maintain  schools.  R. 
S.  c.  15,  §  92.  Plantations  have  the  same  powers  and  lia- 
bilities as  towns  for  electing  superintending  school  commit- 
tees, superintendents  of  schools,  treasurers  and  collectors, 
and  for  raising,  assessing  and  collecting  school  money,  to  be 
apportioned  and  expended  as  in  towns.  The  assessors  of 
plantations  may  take  a  census  of  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
at  the  expense  of  the  plantation,  and  when  so  taken,  the 
money  raised  therein  for  schools  shall  be  upon  the  basis  of 
such  census  and  not  upon  the  census  of  the  state. 

See  c.  4,  §  140;     61  Me.  449. 

Sec.  114.  School  moneys  of  plantations,  how  expended. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  93.  All  moneys  due  plantations  from  the  state 
treasury  for  school  purposes,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurers 
of  such  plantations,  under  the  same  conditions  as  in  case 
of  towns,  and  the  same  shall  be  expended  by  such  planta- 
tions, under  the  same  restrictions  and  limitations  as  are 
required  of  towns. 


52  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

i 

State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 

Sec.  120.  Appointment  and  term  of  office.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  98.  The  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  coun- 
cil shall  appoint  a  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
who  shall  continue  in  office  three  years,  or  during  the  pleas- 
lire  of  the  executive ;  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  a  new  ap- 
pointment for  a  like  term. 

Sec.  121.  Office  at  the  capital.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  99.  1907, 
c.  171,  §  i.  1909,  c.  125,  §  i.  1913,  c.  12,  §  i.  An  office  shall 
be  provided  for  him  at  the  seat  of  government,  where  he 
shall  perform  his  official  duties,  not  meaning,  however,  to 
prohibit  him  from  making  such  necessary  journeys  and  per- 
forming such  duties  as  are  necessary  or  incidental  to  the 
immediate  object  of  such  journey;  he  shall  there  preserve 
all  school  reports  of  this  state  and  of  other  states  which  he 
may  receive,  the  returns  from  the  various  towns,  and  insti- 
tutions of  learning  and  such  books,  apparatus,  maps,  charts, 
works  on  education,  plans  for  school  buildings,  models,  and 
other  articles  of  interest  to  school  officers  and  teachers  as 
may  be  procured  without  expense  to  the  state. 

Sec.  122.  Duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  100.  1915,  c.  198.  1919, 
c.  146.  In  addition  to  the  duties  elsewhere  specifically  im- 
posed on  him,  his  duties  are  as  follows : 

I.  To    exercise    a   general    supervision   of   all    the    public 
schools,  and  to  advise  and  direct  the  town  committees  and 
superintendents  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  by  circular 
letters  and  personal  conference,  devoting  all  his  time  to  the 
duties  of  his  office. 

II.  To   obtain   information   as  to  the   school   systems   of 
other  states  and  countries,  and  the  condition  and  progress 
of  public  school  education  throughout  the  world;  -to  dissemi- 
nate  this   information,   with   such   practical   hints   upon   the 
conduct  of  schools,  improved  systems  of  instruction,  and  the 
true   theory  of   education   as   observation  and   investigation 
convince  him  to  be  important,  by  public  addresses,  circulars 
and  articles  prepared  for  the  press,   and  by  outlines,   sug- 
gestions   and    directions    concerning   the    management,    dis- 
cipline and  methods  employed  in  teaching,  prepared  for  and 
distributed   among  the  teachers   of  the   schools   and   school 
officers  of  the  state  ;   and  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  awaken  and 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  53 

sustain  an  interest  in  education  among  the  people,  and  to 
stimulate  teachers  to  well  directed  efforts  in  their  work. 

III.  To  take   such   measures   as   he  deems  necessary  to 
secure  the  holding  of  a  state  educational   convention  once 
each  year,  with  a  view   of  bringing*  together  the  teachers, 
school   committees,   school   superintendents,   and   friends   of 
education,  for  consultation  with  reference  to  the  interest  of 
public  schools  and  the  most  approved  method  of  instruction. 

IV.  To  encourage  the  formation  of  county  teachers'  asso- 
ciations, approve  rules  of  government  therefor,  and  to  super- 
vise the  conduct  of  conventions  held  by  such  associations. 
He  shall  also  conduct  summer  training  schools  for  teachers, 
whenever  provision  is  made  by  the  legislature  for  holding 
such  schools. 

V.  To  prepare'  and  cause  to  be  printed  and  distributed 
such  portions  of  the  proceedings  of  state  institutes  or  teach- 
ers' conventions  as  he  deems  important  in  the  furtherance  of 
education. 

VI.  Biennially,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  legislature,  to  compile  and  distribute,  in  pamph- 
let form,  to  the  municipal  and  school  officers  of  the  several 
towns,  three  thousand  copies  of  the  amended  school  laws  of 
the  state ;   and  to  prepare  and  issue  thus  biennially,  such  cir- 
culars of  information  and  advice  to  school  officers,  relating 
to  new  school  enactments,  as  he  shall  deem  necessary  for  the 
intelligent  and  effectual  enforcement  of  such  enactments. 

VII.  To  prescribe  the  studies  to  be  taught  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  private  schools  approved  for  attendance  and 
tuition  purposes,  reserving  to  superintending  school  commit- 
tees, trustees  or  other  officers  in  charge  of  such  public  or 
private  schools  the  right  to  prescribe  additional  studies,  and 
the  course  of  study  prescribed  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  shall  be  followed  in  all  public  schools  and  in 
all  private  schools  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  for 
attendance    or   tuition    purposes ;     provided,    however,    that 
upon  the  approval  by  the  state  superintendent  of  any  course 
arranged   by   the    superintending   school    committee   of   any 
town,  or    by  the  trustees  or    other   officers  of  any    private 
school,  said  course  shall  be  the  authorized  course  for  said 
town   or   private   school;    provided,   further,   that  the   basic 
language  of  instruction  in  the  common  school  branches  in 


54  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

all  schools,  public  and  private,  shall  be  the  English  language ; 
and  provided,  further,  that  American  history  and  civil  gov- 
ernment shall  be  taught  in  all  common  schools  of  elementary 
and  high  school  grades,  both  public  and  private,  and  that 
American  history  and  civil  government  shall  be  required 
for  graduation  from  all  grammar  schools,  both  public  and 
private.  Nothing  in  this  section  shall  be  construed  to  pro- 
hibit the  teaching  in  elementary  schools  of  any  language  as 
such. 

VIII.  To   furnish   to   the   school   officers   of   each   town, 
proper   blank   books   in   which   shall   be   kept   complete   and 
itemized  records  of  all   matters  relating  to  moneys  appro- 
priated, received  and  expended  for  schools,  which  said  books 
shall  remain  the  property  of  the  state. 

IX.  To  assume  the  control  and  management  of  all  free 
public  schools   established   and   maintained   by  gifts   or  be- 
quests, when  said  gifts  or  bequests  are  conditioned  upon  said 
state   superintendent   assuming   such    control   and    manage- 
ment; and  he  shall  carry  out  the  provisions  upon  which  such 
gifts  or  bequests  are  conditioned,  when  said  conditions  are 
approved  by  the  governor  and  council. 

X.  To  perform  all  duties  imposed  upon  him  by  any  char- 
ter or  charters  granted  by  the  legislature  to  educational  in- 
stitutions in  the  state. 

XL  Annually,  to  report  to  the  governor  and  council 
the  result  of  his  inquiries  and  investigations,  and  the  facts 
obtained  from  the  school  returns,  with  such  suggestions  and 
recommendations  as  in  his  judgment  will  best  promote  the 
improvement  of  public  schools. 

Sec.  123.  Superintendent  to  furnish  blanks  for  fiscal  re- 
turns, and  return  list  of  towns  making  same.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  101.  The  state  superintendent  shall  prepare  and  furnish  to 
the  town  officers  such  blanks  as  he  deems  proper  to  secure 
the  fiscal  returns  required  in  section  thirty-one.  He  shall 
return  to  the  treasurer  of  state  on  the  first  day  of  July  an- 
nually, a  list  of  such  towns  as  have  made  such  fiscal  returns; 
and  no  school  moneys  shall  be  paid  by  the  treasurer  of  state 
to  any  town,  so  long  as  it  neglects  to  make  such  returns. 

Sec.  124.  Superintendent  to  prepare  and  forward  blanks 
for  school  returns.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  102.  1913,  c.  99.  He  shall 
prepare  and  print  blank  forms  for  all  other  returns  required 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  55 

by  law,  or  deemed  by  him  necessary,  and  shall,  on  the  first 
day  of  each  March,  forward  to  the  superintendents  of  schools 
of  the  several  towns,  blanks  for  the  annual  school  return  as 
provided  in  section  fifty,  and  shall,  on  the  first  day  of  each 
May,  forward  to  said  superintendents  blanks  for  the  returns 
required  by  section  fifty-one. 

Sec.  125.  Notice  to  delinquent  committees.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  103.  He  shall,  on  the  first  day  of  each  June,  notify  the 
school  committee  of  any  town  whose  returns  were  not  re- 
ceived at  his  office  in  May,  and  shall,  annually,  ascertain  on 
the  first  day  of  July  the  number  of  children  between  five 
and  twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  the  towns  from  which  re- 
turns are  received,  and  furnish  a  list  thereof  to  the  treasurer 
of  state. 

State  Examinations  of  Teachers. 

Sec.  126.     State  examination  of  teachers.     1913,  c.  58,  §  i. 

The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  cause  to  be 
held  at  least  once  each  year  at  such  times  and  at  such  places 
as  he  may  designate,  public  examinations  of  candidates  for 
the  position  of  teachers  in  the  public  schools. 

Sec.  127.  Tests  required.  1913,  c.  58,  §  2.  The  examina- 
tion herein  provided  for  shall  test  the  professional  as  well  as 
the  scholastic  abilities  of  the  candidates  and  shall  be  con- 
ducted by  such  persons  or  agents  and  in  such  manner  as  the 
state  superintendent  may  determine.  Due  public  notices  of 
the  times,  places  and  other  conditions  of  the  examinations 
shall  be  given. 

Sec.  128.'  Certificates  issued  by  state  superintendent; 
knowledge  of  physiology  and  hygiene  requisite.  Certificates 
may  be  granted  without  examination.  State  superintendent 
shall  prescribe  regulations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  30,  jf  n.  1913,  c. 
58,  §  3.  1915,  c.  74.  1919,  c.  69.  Certificates  of  qualifica- 
tion signed  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  be  granted  to  all  candidates  who  pass  satisfactory  ex- 
aminations in  such  branches  as  are  required  or  permitted 
by  law  to  be  taught  in  the  public  schools  and  who  in  other 
respects  fulfill  the  proper  requirements ;  provided,  however, 
that  no  person  shall  be  eligible  for  a  certificate  unless  he 
is  at  least  seventeen  years  of  age  and  has  completed  not  less 
than  a  standard  secondary  school  course,  or  unless  he  shall 


56  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

present  satisfactory  evidence  of  such  educational  attainment 
otherwise  secured  as  may  be  adjudged  by  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  to  be  the  equivalent  of  said 
standard  secondary  school  course.  Such  certificate  shall  be 
either  probationary  or  permanent,  and  shall  indicate  the 
grade  of  schools  which  the  person  named  therein  is  qualified 
to  teach ;  provided,  however,  that  no  certificate  of  secondary 
grade  shall  be  granted  to  any  person  who  has  not  com- 
pleted the  equivalent  of  two  years  of  a  college  or  normal 
school  course.  No  certificate  shall  be  granted  to  any  person 
to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state,  who  has  not 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  physiology  and  hygiene, 
with  special  reference  to  the  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks, 
stimulants  and  narcotics  upon  the  human  system.  Provided, 
however,  that  the  certificate  may  be  granted  without  the 
examination  herein  prescribed  to  graduates  of  colleges  and 
Maine  state  normal  schools,  or  of  other  normal  training 
schools  having  a  two  years'  course  for  graduates  of  high 
schools  or  academies,  and  to  teachers  of  two  years'  service 
and  satisfactory  fitness,  on  the  presentation  of  such  evi- 
dence of  fitness  and  under  such  special  conditions  as  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  may  prescribe.  Pro- 
vided, further,  that  certificates  may,  under  the  rules  pre- 
scribed by  the  state  superintendent,  be  granted  to  persons 
holding  state  certificates  granted  by  authority  of  other  states. 
Provided,  further,  that  .any  certificate  granted  under  this 
or  any  preceding  law  may  for  sufficient  cause  be  revoked  and 
annulled. 

Sec.  129.  List  of  persons  certified  shall  be  kept.  1913,  c. 
58,  §  4.  A  list  of  persons  so  certified  shall  be  kept  in  the 
office  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  copies 
of  the  same  with  such  information  as  may  be  desired  shall 
be  sent  to  school  committees  and  superintendents  upon  their 
request. 

Sec.  130.  Persons  not  holding  state  certificate  shall  not  be 
employed.  1913,  c.  58,  §  5.  1919,  c.  69.  No  persons  shall 
be  employed  to  teach  in  any  school  under  the  supervision 
and  control  of  any  school  board  of  any  city,  town  or  planta- 
tion of  this  state,  who  does  not  hold  a  state  certificate  as 
herein  provided.  Provided,  however,  that  any  person  not 
holding  a  state  certificate  may  be  granted  not  more  than  one 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  57 

temporary  non-renewable  teaching  permit  for  a  period  not 
to  exceed  one  year,  such  permit  to  be  issued  upon  examina- 
tion by  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  town  in  which 
such  person  is  employed  and  the  form  of  such  permit,  in- 
dicating the  grade  of  school  for  which  it  is  to  be  issued,  shall 
be  prepared  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
and  shall  be  furnished  by  him  upon  application  of  the  super- 
intendent of  schools  of  any  town.  No  person  shall  be  eligi- 
ble to  a  teaching  permit  unless  he  shall  meet  the  require- 
ments of  section  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  in  relation 
to  age  and  educational  preparation.  Provided,  further,  that 
all  state  certificates  heretofore  granted  shall  continue  in  force 
in  accordance  with  the  terms  stated  therein.  The  state 
superintendent  of  schools  is  hereby  authorized  to  formulate 
all  rules  and  regulations  necessary  for  the  carrying  out  of 
the  provisions  of  this  section  and  of  the  four  preceding 
sections. 

Sec.  131.  Penalty  for  teaching  without  certificate.  1913, 
c.  58,  §  6.  Whoever  teaches  a  public  school  without  first 
obtaining  a  state  teachers'  certificate  or  a  temporary  teach- 
ing permit  as  herein  provided,  forfeits  not  exceeding  the  sum 
contracted  for  his  daily  wages,  for  each  day  he  so  teaches 
and  is  barred  from  receiving  pa,y  therefor. 

Sec.  132.  Appropriation.  1913,  c.  58,  §  7.  For  the  neces- 
sary expenses  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  six  pre- 
ceding sections  there  may  be  annually  expended  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall 
deduct  for  said  purpose  from  any  school  money  raised  for 
the  support  of  common  schools. 

Industrial  Education. 

Sec.  133.  Duty  of  state  superintendent  of  public  schools. 
1911,  c.  188,  §  i.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  be  charged  with  the  duty  of  extending  the  investiga- 
tion of  methods  of  industrial  education ;  he  shall  advise  and 
aid  in  the  introduction  of  industrial  courses  into  free  high 
schools  and  academies  aided  by  the  state  and  shall  report 
on  all  special  schools  in  which  industrial  education  is  pro- 
vided. He  shall  inspect  the  courses  of  study  offered  in  such 
free  high  schools  and  academies  and  he  shall  have  authority 
to  approve  such  courses  in  all  schools  aided  by  the  state. 


',(    I  Inn  I.      LAWS      01'       MAI  N  I'.. 

Sec.  134.     Manual    training  shall    be  in  in  id  need  into  all 
n<  .  uial  scnoois.     igxx,  c.  188,  §  2.     1913,  c.  37,  §  i.     In-    MM 

lei     of  1 1  ir  slate  noi  ma  I  schools    .hall  ( .11  isc  lo  In-  introduced 

into  .ill  "I  I  IK  said  \\>  >\  in.il  •,<  In  n  »|,s  Sin  ll  conrsi  in  ni.iini.il 
.MI  ,  <|.  inn  i  ii  si  ien<  c  and  a;;i  i«  nil  in  <•  as  will  enable  I  heir 

•  i  .idn.ii  <  ',    in    !c;nli    elenieiii.i  i  v    i  muses    in    those      nbjects    in 
the    rural    .md    ••  i  ade   Si  Imnls.       I  n    IK  »l    innrc    I  han    i  me   .  »i      .1  id 

*  I Is   UK-   cmnsc    HI    manual    training    shall    he   so   extended 

a.s    in    ollei     opportunity     In    persons    desiring    lo    <|iialily    as 
pecial    !<  ai  hers  of   lhai    hi  am  h,   and    in    nni    nmi  e    I  han   one 

i MM    ,e   III   dom€    I  I'     Si  n  lice  shall   he  sn  extended   as  I"  <  ill  IT 

silllilai    <>ppm  I  nni!  y    |o   persons   d«     n  in-    In   ipiahi       .1         pei  i.il 

i  •  ai  hers  thereof.      |<m    i  he   two  spei  ial   «  mn  ses   t  hns  offei  ed 

I  lie    I  ,  n    i .  .    ,  .1 1  e  .1  nt  lii  >i  i/.cd    h  i  expend   annually    n«  <!    L()  CXI  CCd 

i       i  h.  .ir, ind   dnllai  B,   u  In-  Ii   -.hall    he  addil  imial   In  othei      nni 

,:pprnprialc<|    for    the    snp|H.ii    <.|    said    mat    schools    and 

•,,  in.  h    I  he    1 1  e.i    in  ,i    i)|    state    shall    deduct     h  oni    an)     hind', 

i  aised    for  I  he  snpp»  n  i    nl    CM n  m    sch< "  >ls. 

Sec.  135.  State  aid  to  towns  maintaining  manual  training 
in  elementary  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  3.  Wh<inv<i  ihe 

npei  inleiidcnl     i  >l      ii  I Is    ol    ail)     town    shall    CC1  I  il  \     under 

oath  to  the  stale  ,-aipei  ml  endenl  .»|  pnhlie  s<  Imnls  according 
l«>  a  form  prescribed  by  lu'ni  ilia!  instruction  in  manual 
i ;  .Miiini;-  or  d> si  i«  s<  ience  has  heen  pro\  idcd  pupil  .  .1 

•  .  UK  m  i    \       (  Inn  .1:,    Ini     I  he     \  eai     pi  e,  edini;,    then     npnn    ap 

i'it>\al   of   siii'h   certificate   h\    the   state   superintendent    of 

pnhhc   S<  liool:  .      I. Me   .nd    :  .hall    hi'    p.nd    In   Ihe   anmnnt    of   l\vn 
thirds  the  loial  salary    paid  eaeh  teachei  ;    provided,  thai   the 
.-in. mnl   so  paid  by  the  slate   for  Ihe  employment   nf  ail)    one 
instructor    shall     not     exci-ed     ci:;hl     hnndied    dnllais    m     one 
\cai  ;    and   pm\i<U-d    Inilhei,   that    the-  appropriation    m.ide    |,\ 
Ihe    ln\\n    for    I  hi.',    pmpnse    shall    be    exclusive    of   any    other 
Mini     received     from     the    slate    for    the    siippm!     of    eomnmn 
KChOOla  and   n|    ihe  111111111111111    icipiiicmeiil    raised   h\    the   li»\\n 
as   prescribed    l>\    section    sixteen   of   this   chapter;    and    pro 
\ided    further,  that    Ihe  course  of  stndv,  ecpiipnienl    and   <pi.il 
ioni      "I     instructors    shall     have    been    a|>proved    b\     the 
slate  superintendent    of  public   schools. 

Sec.  136.  State  aid  for  maintaining  manual  training  in 
high  school  or  academy.  1911,  c.  18,  §  4.  1919,  c.  93.  The 
superintending  ^clmnl  committee  having  charge  of  an\'  free 


<$CHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAJ 

high  school,  or  the  trutteei  of  any  incorporated  academy 
provide  for  instruction  therein  in  the  principles  of  agri- 
culture and  the  domestic  and  mechanic  arts.  Whenever  it 
shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  governor  and  council,  from 
return-,  mad<  rein  provided,  that  in  any  free  high 

Khool  or  a<  ademy  instruction  has  been  furnished  during  the 
ding  year  in  the  principles  of  agriculture,  the  mechanic 
arts  or  domestic  'he  governor  and  council  shall  direct 

of  state  to  pay  to  the  town  supporting  such 
jigh  school,  or  to  the  treasurer  of  such  academy,  in  ad- 
dition to  other  state  aid  if  any,  a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the 
total    expenditure    for    instrucion    in    each   of   said    courses; 
provided,   however,   that    no   school  shall   receive  a   total  in 
ven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  any  one  year 
for  the  support,  of  said  courses;    and  provided,  that  state  aid 
shall  not  be  allowed  for  any  course  which  has  an  average 
attendant-  of  lesfl  i  han  twelve  students;    and,  provided  fur- 
1)  aid  -.hall  not  be  granted  unless  the  course  of 
study,    equipment    and    qualifications    of    instructors    shall 
;cen   approved   by   the   state   superintendent   of 
public   schools. 

Sec.  137.     State  aid  to  towns  maintaining  evening  schools. 

Americanization  and  reducing  illiteracy.     1911,  c.  188,  §  6. 

I9I5»  c.  go.      1919,  c.   148.     Whenever    the    superintending 

.•>]  committee  of  any  town  shall  have  maintained  during 

ol   year  an   evening  school  as  provided  by  section 

twenty-five,    said    town    shall    be    reimbursed   by   the   State  a' 

sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the  amount  paid  for  instruction  in 

evening  school,  provided  there  shall  have  been  offered, 

1:1  addition  to  the  subjects  elsewhere  prescribed  for  evening 

K>ls,  courses  in  the  commercial  branches,  the  don. 
and  manual  arts  or  the  elements  of  the  trades,  said  courses 
to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools;  no  town  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  reim- 
bursement under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  unless  the 
total  average  attendance  in  said  courses  shall  equal  not  less 
than  twenty-five  per  <-ent  of  the  a.  'tendance  of  the 

>ol ;    provided,  however,  that  for  the  purpose  of  Ameri- 
cani/.ation    and    also    for   the    purpose   of   reducing   illiteracy 
within    the    state    all    towns   and    cities    in    which    there   are 
of  normal  mentality  over  eighteen  years  of  age  who 


60  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

are  unable  to  read,  to  write  and  to  speak  the  English  lan- 
guage to  a  reasonable  degree  of  efficiency,  or  who  are  unable 
to  read  and  to  write  in  any  language,  are  hereby  authorized 
to  organize  and  conduct  evening  schools  or  classes  in  which 
such  persons  of  foreign  birth  or  foreign  extraction  shall  be 
given  opportunity  to  learn  to  read,  to  write  and  to  speak  the 
English  language  and  to  learn  the  duties  of  citizens  in  a 
democracy,  and  also  in  which  illiterates  shall  be  given  op- 
portunity to  learn  to  read  and  to  write  and  to  pursue  such 
other  subjects  as  will  increase  their  civic  intelligence.  Such 
schools  and  classes  shall  meet  the  approval  of  the  state 
superintendent  of  schools  in  regard  to  the  qualifications  of 
instructors,  length  of  term  and  subjects  offered  and  towns 
maintaining  them  shall  be  reimbursed  to  the  same  extent 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  for  other  schools  and  classes  set 
forth  in  this  section. 

Sec.  138.  State  aid  to  towns  maintaining  general  indus- 
trial schools;  duty  of  school  committee  and  superintendent 
of  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  7.  The  superintending  school 
committee  of  any  town  when  authorized  by  vote  of  the  town 
shall  establish  and  maintain  as  a  part  of  the  public  school 
system  of  such  town  a  general  industrial  school  for  the 
teaching  of  agriculture,  household  science,  the  mechanic  arts 
and  the  trades.  Such  general  industrial  schools  shall  be 
open  to  pupils  who  have  completed  the  elementary  school 
course  or  who  have  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  The 
authority  and  duties  of  the  superintending  school  committee 
and  of  the  superintendent  of  schools  in  relation  to  such  in- 
dustrial schools  shall  be  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools,  but  the  support  of  such  schools  shall 
be  derived  from  funds  raised  in  addition  to  any  sums  appro- 
priated for  the  support  of  common  and  high  schools.  When- 
ever it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  governor  and  council 
that  any  town  has  provided  instruction  in  the  trades  and 
industries  in  a  general  industrial  school  maintained  therein 
for  a  period  of  thirty-six  weeks  during  the  school  year,  and 
employing  at  least  one  teacher  whose  work  is  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  such  instruction,  and  having  an  average  attend- 
ance of  at  least  twenty  pupils,  the  governor  and  council  shall 
direct  the  treasurer  of  state  to  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  such 
town  a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the  total  amount  spent  for 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  61 

instruction  in  said  school,  provided  that  not  more  than  two 
thousand  dollars  shall  be  paid  by  the  state  to  any  one  town 
in  any  year. 

Sec.  139.  Deduction  from  school  and  mill  fund;  reports 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  8. 
1913,  c.  37,  §  2.  1915,  c.  143.  1917,  c.  77.  1919,  c.  87.  For 
the  purposes  of  the  seven  preceding  sections  there  shall  be 
deducted  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from  the  school  and  mill 
fund  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  for  the  period  from 
January  first,  nineteen  hundred  twenty-one  to  June  thir- 
tieth, nineteen  hundred  twenty-one,  and  ninety  thousand 
dollars  for  the  year  from  July  first,  nineteen  hundred  twenty- 
one  to  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  twenty-two,  and 
annually  thereafter,  and  any  unexpended  balance  of  this 
amount  shall  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund.  All 
reports  required  under  said  sections  shall  be  filed  annually 
with  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  July,  and  state  aid  shall  be  payable  during 
the  month  of  December  next  succeeding. 

Normal  Schools,  and  Madawaska  Training  School. 

Sec.  140.  Five  normal  schools.  Their  objects.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  109.  P.  &  S.  L.  1905,  c.  313.  1909,  c.  44.  1913,  c.  109, 

§  i.  The  Northern  Normal  School  at  Farmington,  the  East- 
ern Normal  School  at  Castine,  the  Western  Normal  School 
at  Gorham,  the  Washington  State  Normal  School  at  Ma- 
chias,  and  the  Aroostook  State  Normal  School  at  Presque 
Isle,  shall  be  conducted  for  the  purposes  and  upon  the  prin- 
ciples herein  set  forth. 

I.  They  shall  be  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  training  of 
teachers  for  their  professional  labors. 

II.  The  course  of  study  shall  include  the  common  Eng- 
lish branches  in  thorough  reviews,  and  such  of  the  higher 
branches  as   are   especially   adapted  to   prepare  teachers   to 
conduct  the  mental,  moral  and  physical  education  of  their 
pupils. 

III.  The  art  of  school   management,   including  the  best 
methods  of  government  and  instruction,  shall  have  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  daily  exercises  of  said  schools. 

IV.  Said  schools,  while  teaching  the  fundamental  truths 
of  Christianity,  and  the  great  principles  of  morality,  recog- 


62  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

nized  by  law,  shall  be  free  from  all  denominational  teach- 
ings, and  open  to  persons  of  different  religious  connections 
on  terms  of  equality. 

V.  The  principals  of  the  normal  schools  and  of  all  other 
schools  in  which  normal  departments  are  supported,  wholly 
or  in  part,  by  the  state,  shall  keep  a  register  containing  the 
names  of  all  students  entering  such  schools  or  departments, 
the  date  of  entering  and  leaving,  their  ages,  number  of  days' 
attendance,  the  length  of  the  term,  a  list  of  textbooks  used 
and  all  other  information  required  in  the  blanks  furnished  by 
the  state  superintendent.  Such  register  and  blanks  shall  be 
returned  to  said  superintendent  by  the  first  day  of  each 
December,  and  the  information  so  furnished  shall  appear  in 
his  annual  report,  for  the  use  of  the  legislature. 

Sec.  141.  Courses  of  study.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  no.  1915,  c. 
91.  The  course  of  study  shall  occupy  two  years  with  suit- 
able vacations,  and,  with  the  terms  of  admission,  shall  be 
arranged  by  said  superintendent.  The  trustees  may  arrange 
for  a  course  of  study,  occupying  three  or  four  years,  for  such 
students  as  elect  to  pursue  the  same,  and  they  may  give  such 
credit  as  they  may  deem  advisable  for  successful  teaching 
experience. 

Sec.  142.  Diplomas  to  be  issued.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  in.  Any 
student  who  completes  the  course  of  study  prescribed,  and 
otherwise  complies  with  the  regulations  of  the  school,  shall 
receive  a  diploma  certifying  the  same. 

Sec.  143.  Applicants  for  admission,  qualification;  tuition. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  112.  1909,  c.  27.  1917,  c.  247.  Applicants  for 
admission  shall  be  sixteen  years  of  age  if  females,  and  seven- 
teen if  males,  and  shall  signify  their  intention  to  become 
teachers  and  come  under  obligation  to  teach  in  this  state  for 
at  least  one  year,  and  if  they  receive  a  diploma,  the  first  two 
years  of  teaching  after  they  have  graduated ;  on  these  condi- 
tions they  shall  be  received  without  charge  for  tuition,  other- 
wise they  shall  pay  tuition  at  the  rate  of  fifty  dollars  per 
year. 

Sec.  144.  Trustees  of  normal  schools,  their  appointment, 
powers  and  duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  113.  1905,  c.  n.  1909,  c. 
103.  1913,  c.  109,  §  2.  Said  schools  shall  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  board  of  five  trustees,  four  of  whom  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  '63 

council,  for  terms  of  four  years,  and  not  more  than  two  of 
the  four  appointed  members  shall  be  of  the  same  political 
party.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  is,  by  vir- 
tue of  his  office,  a  member  of  the  said  board  of  normal  school 
trustees.  Said  board  shall  have  charge  of  the  general  inter- 
ests of  said  schools ;  shall  see  that  the  affairs  thereof  are 
conducted  as  required  by  law  and  by  such  by-laws  as  the 
board  adopts ;  employ  teachers  and  lecturers  for  the  same ; 
and,  annually,  on  the  first  day  of  December  lay  before  the 
governor  and  council,  for  the  information  of  the  legislature, 
a  financial  statement,  furnishing  an  accurate  detailed  account 
of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  school  year  preced- 
ing. 

105  Me.  220. 

XOTE — Authorized  to  take  land  for  building  for  use  of  Western 
Normal  School,  at  Gorham,  P.  &  S.  L.  1913,  c.  47. 

Sec.  145.  Madawaska  Training  School.  R.  S.  c.  15,  § 
114.  The  trustees  of  state  normal  schools  shall  maintain 
for  not  less  than  eight  months  annually,  the  Madawaska 
Training  School,  at  Fort  Kent,  for  the  purpose  of  training 
persons  to  teach  in  the  common  schools  of  Madawaska  terri- 
tory, so  called,  which  school  shall  be  under  their  control 
and  direction,  in  the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent 
as'the  other  state  normal  schools. 

Sec.  146.  Appropriation  for  normal  and  training  schools. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  115.  1909,  c.  106.  1911,  c.  186.  1913,  c.  45. 
1915,  c.  175.  1917,  c.  64.  1919,  c.  149.  For  the  support  of 
the  five  normal  schools  and  Madawaska  Training  School, 
the  sum  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  period  end- 
ing June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  twenty-one,  and  there- 
after one  hundred  eighty  thousand  dollars  is  annually  appro- 
priated, to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  said  trustees, 
which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall  deduct  for  said  pur- 
pose from  any  school  money  raised  for  the  support  of  com- 
mon schools.  The  governor  and  council  may  from  time  to 
time,  as  they  think  proper,  draw  warrants  therefor  on  said 
treasurer  in  favor  of  said  trustees. 

Instruction  for  the  Blind. 

Sec.  147.  Blind  children  may  be  sent  to  Perkins  Institute; 
no  distinction  made  on  account  of  wealth  or  poverty;  ex- 


64  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

penses  paid  by  state.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  116.  1913,  c.  46.  Upon 
the  request  of  the  parents  or  guardians,  the  governor  may, 
\\ith  the  approval  of  the  council,  send  such  blind  children 
as  he  may  deem  fit  subjects  for  education,  for  a  term  not 
exceeding  ten  years,  and  thereafter  in  the  discretion  of  the 
governor  and  council,  in  the  case  of  any  pupil,  to  the  Perkins 
Institute  for  the  Blind  at  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  pro- 
vided, however,  that  when  the  authorities  in  charge  of  said 
Perkins  Institute  for  the  blind  shall  refuse  for  any  reason  to 
admit  such  blind  children  to  said  institute  then  the  governor 
may,  with  the  approval  of  the  council,  send  such  children  so 
refused  to  any  institution  for  the  blind  wherever  located. 
In  the  exercise  of  the  discretionary  power  conferred  by  this 
section,  no  distinction  shall  be  made  on  account  of  the 
wealth  or  poverty  of  the  parents  or  guardians  of  such  chil- 
dren. No  such  pupil  shall  be  withdrawn  from  such  institu- 
tion except  with  the  consent  of  the  proper  authorities  thereof 
or  of  the  governor ;  and  the  sums  necessary  for  the  support 
and  instruction  of  such  pupils  in  such  institution,  including 
all  traveling  expenses  of  such  pupils  attending  such  institu- 
tion shall  be  paid  by  the  state ;  provided,  however,  that  noth- 
ing herein  contained  shall  be  held  to  prevent  the  voluntary 
payment  of  the  whole  or  any  part  of  such  sums  by  the  par- 
ents or  guardians  of  such  pupils. 

Penal  Provisions  Affecting  Schools. 

Sec.   148.     Forfeitures,   how  recovered  and  appropriated; 
penalty,  if  town  neglects  to  expend  money.     R.  S.  c.   15,  § 

117.  Forfeitures  under  this  chapter,  not  otherwise  provided 
for  may  be  recovered  by  indictment,  and  shall  be  paid  into 
the  treasury  of  the  town  where  they  occurred,  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  therein,  in  addition  to  the  amount  required 
by  law  to  be  raised ;    but  the  costs  of  prosecution  shall  be 
paid  into  the  county  treasury;    any  town  neglecting  for  one 
year,  so  to  expend  such  money,  forfeits  an  equal  sum  to  any 
person  suing  therefor  in  an  action  of  debt. 

Sec.   149.     Penalty  for  disturbing  schools.     R.  S.  c.  15,  § 

118.  Whoever,  whether  a  scholar  or  not,  enters  any  school- 
house  or  other  place  of  instruction,  during  or  out  of  school 
hours,  while  the  teacher  or  any  pupil  is  present,  and  wilfully 
interrupts  or  disturbs  the  teacher  or  pupils  by  loud  speak- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  65 

ing,  rude  or  indecent  behavior,  signs  or  gestures,  or  wilfully 
interrupts  a  school  by  prowling  about  the  building,  making 
noises,  throwing  missiles  at  the  schoolhouse,  or  in  any  way 
disturbing  the  school,  forfeits  not  less  than  two,  or  more 
than  twenty  dollars,  to  be  recovered  as  aforesaid,  or  on 
complaint. 

27  Me.  278;     35  Me  197. 

Sec.  150.  Parents  or  guardians  liable  in  double  damages 
for  injuries.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  119.  If  a  minor  injures  or  aids 
in  injuring  any  schoolhouse,  outbuildings,  utensils  or  appur- 
tenances belonging  thereto;  defaces  the  walls,  benches,  seats 
or  other  parts  of  said  buildings  by  marks,  cuts  or  otherwise ; 
or  injures  or  destroys  any  school  property  belonging  to  a 
town,  such  town  by  an  attendance  officer  thereof,  may  re- 
cover of  his  parent  or  guardian,  in  an  action  of  debt,  double 
the  damage  occasioned  thereby. 

Sec.  151.  Penalty  for  defacing  schoolhouses,  outbuildings. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  120.  Whoever  defaces  the  walls,  benches, 
seats,  blackboards  or  other  parts  of  any  schoolhouse  or  out- 
buildings belonging  thereto,  by  obscene  pictures,  language, 
marks  or  descriptions,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  ten  dol- 
lars, on  complaint  made  within  one  year. 

See  c.  126,  §  23. 

Sec.  152.  Innholders,  stable  keepers,  and  certain  others, 
not  to  give  credit  to  students.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  121.  If  an  inn- 
holder,  confectioner,  or  keeper  of  a  shop,  boarding-house,  or 
livery  stable,  gives  credit  for  food,  drink  or  horse  or  carriage 
hire,  to  any  pupil  of  a  college  or  literary  institution  in  vio- 
lation of  its  rules,  he  forfeits  a  sum  equal  to  the  amount  so 
credited,  whether  it  has  been  paid  or  not,  to  be  recovered 
in  an  action  of  debt  by  the  treasurer  of  such  institution; 
half  to  its  use ;  and  half  to  the  town  where  it  is  located ;  and 
no  person  shall  be  licensed  by  the  municipal  officers  for  any 
of  said  employments,  if  it  appears  that  within  the  preceding 
year  he  had  given  credit  contrary  to  the  provisions  hereof. 

State  School  Funds. 

Sec.  153.     Permanent  school  fund.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  122.     The 

treasurer  of  state  shall  keep  a  separate  account  of  all  moneys 
received  from  sales  of  lands  appropriated  for  the  support  of 
schools  or    from    notes  taken    therefor,  and  of    any    other 
5 


66  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

moneys  appropriated  for  the  same  purpose;  and  such  sum 
shall  constitute  a  permanent  school  fund,  which  may  be  put 
at  interest  as  the  legislature  directs.  A  sum  equal  to  six 
per  cent  of  the  amount  of  such  fund,  and  one-half  the  sum 
received  by  the  state  from  the  tax  on  the  franchises  of  sav- 
ings banks,  and  one-half  the  sum  assessed  upon  the  deposits 
of  trust  and  banking  companies,  shall  be  annually  appro- 
priated to  the  support  of  common  schools,  and  after  the 
deduction  therefrom  of  all  funds  which  the  treasurer  of  state 
is  by  law  authorized  to  deduct,  the  balance  shall  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  several  towns  according  to  the  number 
of  children  therein  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

See  §§  132,  139,  1 66,  176;    c.  9,  §§  60,  72,  73 ;    73  Me.  126;    109  Me.  172. 

Sections  repealed  by  chap.  173. 

Teachers'  Pensions. 

Sec.  169.  Teachers  who  may  be  entitled  to  an  annual  pen- 
sion of  $250.  1913,  c.  75,  §  i.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who, 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen, 
or  thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  and 
who  for  thirty-five  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching 
as  his  principal  occupation,  and  who  shall  have  been  em- 
ployed as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  or  in  such  other 
schools  within  this  state  as  are  supported  wholly  or  at  least 
three-fifths  by  state  or  town  appropriation  and  are  under 
public  management  and  control,  twenty  years  of  which  em- 
ployment, including  the  fifteen  years  immediately  preceding 
retirement,  shall  have  been  in  this  state,  and  who  shall  be 
retired  by  his  employer  or  shall  voluntarily  retire  from  active 
service  after  completion  of  the  school  year  next  preceding  the 
thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  shall, 
on  his  formal  application,  receive  from  the  state  for  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars ;  provided,  however,  that  after  the  thirtieth  day 
of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  no  such  employ- 
ment as  teacher  within  this  state  shall  be  included  in  its 
provisions  unless  the  teacher  shall  hold  a  state  teachers' 
certificate  issued  under  the  authority  of  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools. 

Sec.  170.  Teachers  who  may  receive  an  annual  pension 
of  $200.  1913,  c.  75,  §  2.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who,  on 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  67 

the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  or 
thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  who 
for  thirty  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching  as  his 
principal  occupation  and  who  shall  have  in  all  other  respects 
met  the  requirements  of  the  preceding  section  shall,  on  his 
formal  application,  receive  from  the  state  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  two  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  171.  Teachers  who  may  receive  an  annual  pension 
of  $150.  1913,  c.  75,  §  3.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who,  on 
the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen, 
or  thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  who 
for  twenty-five  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching 
as  his  principal  occupation,  and  who  shall  have  in  all  other 
respects  met  the  requirements  of  section  one  hundred  sixty- 
nine  shall,  on  his  formal  application,  receive  from  the  state 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars. 

Sec.  172.  Teachers  who  may  receive  half  pension.  1913, 
c,  75,  §  4.  Any  person  who  otherwise  meets  the  require- 
ments of  the  three  preceding  sections,  but  shall  have  retired 
or  shall  have  been  retired  prior  to  the  school  year  next  pre- 
ceding the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred 
thirteen,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  pension  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  section  and  the  three  preceding  sections,  and 
the  amount  of  said  pension  shall  be  determined  by  the  length 
of  service  as  provided  in  the  three  preceding  sections. 

Sec.  173.  State  superintendent  shall  certify  persons  en- 
titled to  pensions;  suspension  of  payment  when  person  re- 
sumes teaching.  1913,  c.  75,  §  7.  On  or  before  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  December,  nineteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  and 
quarterly  thereafter,  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  shall  certify  to  the  governor  and  council  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  are  entitled  to  pensions  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  preceding  sections  and  the  amounts  thereof, 
and  the  governor  and  council  shall  draw  warrants  on  the 
treasurer  of  state  for  payments  from  the  school  pension  fund 
in  favor  of  said  persons  for  said  amounts.  The  payments  of 
any  pension  shall  be  suspended  whenever  the  person  to 
whom  said  pension  has  been  granted  resumes  teaching  in 
any  private  or  public  school. 


68  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  174.  Pensions  are  exempt  from  claims  of  creditors. 
I9I3>  c.  75,  §  8.  All  pensions  granted  or  payable  under  the 
provisions  of  the  five  preceding  sections  shall  be  and  are 
hereby  made  exempt  from  levy  and  sale  by  virtue  of  an 
execution  and  from  all  process  and  proceeding  to  enjoin  and 
recover  the  same  by  or  on  behalf  of  any  creditor  or  person 
having  or  asserting  any  claim  against,  or  debt  or  liability  of 
a  teacher  or  pensioner. 

Sec.  175.  State  superintendent  shall  formulate  rules. 
1913,  c.  75,  §  6.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  formulate  rules  and  regulations  for  carrying  into  effect 
the  provisions  of  the  six  preceding  sections. 

Sec.  176.  Appropriation.  1913,  c.  75,  §  5.  1917,  c.  79. 
1919,  c.  91.  For  the  purposes  of  the  seven  preceding  sec- 
tions the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  is  annually  appro- 
priated, which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall  deduct  for 
said  purposes  out  of  the  school  and  mill  funds  and  the  sum 
so  appropriated  and  deducted  shall  be  denominated  the 
school  pension  fund. 

Sec.  177.  Unexpended  fund  added  to  school  fund.  1913, 
c-  75>  §  9-  All  of  said  school  pension  fund  not  distributed  or 
expended  for  any  financial  year,  shall,  on  the  first  day  of 
July  next  following,  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  69 

AN   ACT  TO    PROVIDE   FOR  THE   REGISTRATION 
OF  TEACHERS. 

(Chap.  137,  P.  L.  1917.) 

Section  i.  Any  person  holding  a  state  teacher's  certificate 
and  any  person  holding  a  temporary  teaching  permit,  or 
eligible  to  receive  such  a  permit  may,  upon  the  payment  of 
three  dollars,  and  upon  application  to  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  him,  register  as  a  candidate  for  employment  as  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  within  the  state.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
cf  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  to  furnish  to 
superintending  school  committees  or  superintendents  of 
schools,  upon  request,  information  relative  to  persons  regis- 
tered as  hereinbefore  provided,  and  to  furnish  persons  thus 
registered  information  relative  to  vacancies  in  positions  in 
public  schools  within  the  state;  but  neither  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  nor  any  person  employed  under 
his  direction  shall  be  held  responsible  for,  nor  be  understood 
to  vouch  for  the  fitness  or  success  of  any  teacher  who  may 
secure  a  position  in  a  public  school  through  the  operation 
of  this  section,  nor  shall  the  acceptance  of  this  enrollment 
and  the  payment  of  the  required  fee  be  construed  as  a  guar- 
antee for  securing  employment  as  a  teacher.  The  payment 
of  the  above  fee  shall  entitle  the  person  registering  to  the 
benefit  of  such  registration  for  a  period  of  three  years. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
make  the  necessary  rules  and  regulations  for  carrying  out 
the  provisions  of  section  one  of  this  act  and  for  obtaining 
whatever  information  is  required  as  to  the  experience,  quali- 
fications and  character  of  persons  seeking  employment  as 
teachers,  and  a  teacher  shall  be  entitled  to  consideration  for 
employment  only  so  long  as  he  complies  with  such  rules  and 
regulations.  He  shall  employ  such  clerical  and  other  assist- 
ants as  may  be  required  and  they  shall  perform  their  duties 
under  the  general  supervision  of  said  superintendent.  He 
shall  collect  and  receipt  for  all  registration  fees,  and  report 
.and  pay  said  fees  to  the  treasurer  of  state  once  in  each 
month.  He  shall  furnish  to  the  state  a  surety  bond  in  sum 
to  be  fixed  by  the  governor  and  council  and  at  the  expense 
of  the  state. 


70  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  3.  For  the  necessary  expenses  of  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  two  preceding  sections  there  may  be  an- 
nually expended  the  amount  of  the  fees  received  under  the 
provisions  of  section  one  together  with  such  part  as  may 
be  required  of  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  which  sum 
the  treasurer  of  state  shall  deduct  for  said  purpose  from 
any  school  money  raised  for  the  support  of  common  schools. 

AN  ACT  TO  ACCEPT  THE  BENEFITS  OF  AN  ACT 
PASSED  BY  THE  SENATE  AND  HOUSE  OF 
REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
OF  AMERICA  IN  CONGRESS  ASSEMBLED  TO 
PROVIDE  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  VOCA- 
TIONAL EDUCATION. 

(Chap.  186,  P.  L.  1917.) 

Section  i.  That  the  State  of  Maine  does  hereby  accept 
the  benefits  of  an  act  passed  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress 
assembled  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  promotion  of 
vocational  education;  to  provide  for  co-operation  with  the 
states  in  the  promotion  of  such  education  in  agriculture  and 
the  trades  and  industries;  to  provide  for  co-operation  with 
the  states  in  the  preparation  of  teachers  of  vocational  sub- 
jects; and  to  appropriate  money  and  regulate  its  expendi- 
ture," approved  February  23,  1917,  and  will  observe  and 
comply  with  all  the  requirements  of  said  act. 

Sec.  2.  That  a  State  Board  is  hereby  created  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  said  act,  and  is  hereby  given  all  necessary  power 
to  co-operate  with  the  Federal  Board  of  Vocational  Educa- 
tion in  the  administration  of  the  provisions  of  the  act.  Said 
board  shall  consist  of  three  members  of  whom  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  serve  as  chairman  and 
the  other  two  members  shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  council  for  terms  of  three 
years.  The  said  board  shall  serve  without  compensation. 

Sec.  3.  The  treasurer  of  state  is  hereby  designated  as 
custodian  for  all  appropriations  received  by  the  state  under 
the  provisions  of  the  act  and  he  shall  receive  and  provide 
for  the  proper  custody  and  distribution  of  all  money  paid 
to  the  state  from  said  appropriations. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  71 

AN  ACT  RELATING  TO  THE  EDUCATION  OF  DEAF 
AND  DUMB  CHILDREN. 

(Chap.  22,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Every  parent,  guardian  or  other  person,  having  control  of 
any  mentally  normal  child  between  six  and  eighteen  years 
of  age,  too  deaf  or  too  dumb  to  be  materially  benefitted  by 
the  methods  of  instruction  in  vogue  in  the  public  schools, 
unless  it  can  be  shown  that  the  child  is  receiving  regular 
instruction  during  the  same  period  in  studies  usually  taught 
in  the  public  schools,  shall  be  required  to  send  such  child 
or  youth  to  the  M;aine  School  for  the  Deaf  in  the  city  of 
Portland,  during  the  scholastic  year  of  that  school.  Such 
child  or  youth  shall  attend  such  school,  year  after  year,  until 
discharged  by  the  superintendent  upon  approval  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  said  school. 

AN   ACT   FOR   THE  RATING  AND   STANDARDIZA- 
TION OF  SCHOOLS. 

(Chap.  26,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  i.  Whenever  the  superintending  school  commit- 
tee or  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  any  town,  or  any  three 
citizens  thereof,  shall  petition  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  to  make  an  inspection  of  the  schools  of  said 
town  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  to  cause  an  inspection  to  be  made  and  to  report  to 
the  school  committee  his  findings  and  recommendations. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
prepare  a  list  of  standards  of  buildings,  equipment,  organiza- 
tion and  instruction  and  shall  give  such  ratings  upon  such 
list  of  standards  to  any  schools  that  are  inspected  under  the 
provisons  of  this  act  as  their  general  condition,  equipment 
and  grade  of  efficiency  may  entitle  them  to. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  TRAINING  OF 
RURAL  TEACHERS. 

(Chap.  51,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  I.  As  a  means  of  increasing  the  efficiency  of  rural 
education  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  to  make  provision  for  a  special  school  of  in- 


72  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

struction  during  the  summer  months  for  not  more  than  one 
hundred  rural  teachers.  The  course  of  study  and  plans  of 
instruction  shall  be  arranged  with  a  special  view  to  train- 
ing for  rural  teaching  and  rural  leadership.  Teachers 
eligible  to  attend  said  school  shall  be  selected  by  the  state 
superintendent  of  schools,  upon  recommendation  of  superin- 
tendents of  rural  towns,  in  accordance  with  such  standards 
of  fitness  as  'the  state  superintendent  shall  determine. 
Teachers  so  trained  shall  agree  to  return  to  the  service  of  the 
towns  from  which  they  are  chosen  for  at  least  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  time  they  shall  act  as  rural  critic  and  helping 
teachers. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  is 
hereby  authorized  to  arrange  for  the  payment  of  necessary 
expenses  of  travel  and  board  incurred  by  teachers  in  attend- 
ing said  school  of  instruction,  and  at  the  close  of  the  school 
year  he  shall  recommend  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  upon 
satisfactory  evidence  of  successful  service,  the  payment  to 
each  teacher  so  trained  of  a  bonus  of  twenty-five  per  cent 
of  the  annual  salary  paid  to  her  by  the  town  for  her  ser- 
vices. The  governor  and  council  shall  direct  the  payment 
of  such  amounts  as  they  shall  approve  out  of  the  appropria- 
tion for  the  training  of  rural  teachers  and  said  amounts  shall 
be  deducted  from  state  school  funds. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  PHYSICAL  EDUCATION 
IN  THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

(Chap.  73,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  i.  In  order  to  more  thoroughly  prepare  the  youth 
of  the  state  for  the  duties  and  obligations  of  citizenship  and 
to  provide  for  their  future  well-being  and  comfort  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  superintending  school  committees  of  the 
several  towns  of  the  state,  beginning  not  later  than  Septem- 
ber first,  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty,  to  make  provision 
for  instruction  to  be  given  to  pupils  in  all  public  schools  in 
personal  hygiene,  community  sanitation  and  physical  educa- 
tion, including  recreational  exercises  in  accordance  with  a 
course  of  study  and  plans  of  lessons  and  instruction  pre- 
pared by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  who  shall 
prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  necessary  to 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  73 

carry  out  in  successful  manner  said  program  of  physical  edu- 
cation and  he  may  require  such  reports  from  superintendents 
as  he  may  deem  necessary. 

Sec.  2.  Towns  may  employ  supervisors  or  directors  of 
physical  education  who  shall  meet  such  standards  of  prepa- 
ration and  certification  as  the  state  superintendent  of  schools 
may  determine.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  superintendent 
of  schools  in  which  directors  or  supervisors  of  physical 
education  are  employed  to  report  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  schools,  on  blank  forms  prepared  by  him,  the  number  of 
pupils  receiving  instruction,  the  number  of  directors  or 
supervisors  employed,  the  amount  paid  such  directors  or 
supervisors,  and  such  other  information  as  may  be  required. 

Sec.  3.  (Whenever  the  supeintendent  of  schools  of  any 
town  shall  certify  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  according  to  a  form  prescribed  by  him  that 
a  director  or  supervisor  of  physical  education  has  been  em- 
ployed for  the  school  year  preceding,  then  upon  approval  of 
such  certificate  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
reimbursement  from  state  or  federal  funds  shall  be  paid  to 
the  amount  of  one-half  the  salary  paid,  not  to  exceed  eight 
hundred  dollars  for  each  director  or  supervisor  in  any  one 
year,  and  not  to  exceed  sixteen  hundred  dollars  to  any  one 
town ;  provided,  that  the  appropriation  made  by  the  town  for 
this  purpose  shall  be  exclusive  of  any  other  sum  received 
from  the  state  for  the  support  of  common  schools  and  of 
the  minimum  requirement  raised  by  the  town  as  prescribed 
by  section  sixteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 
Two  or  more  towns  adjacent  to  each  other,  or  the  several 
towns  of  a  superintendency  union,  may  co-operate  in  the 
employment  of  directors  or  supervisors  of  physical  education 
and  may  apportion  the  cost  of  the  same  among  the  several 
towns  of  the  group  according  to  the  amount  of  time  given 
to  each. 

Sec.  4.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  this  act  there  shall  be  appropriated  for  the  year  nineteen 
hundred  and  twenty,  and  annually  thereafter,  the  sum  of 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  All  reports  required  under  this  act 
•shall  be  filed  annually  with  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  and  state  aid  shall 
be  payable  during  the  month  of  December  next  succeeding. 


74  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

RESOLVE  TO  PROVIDE  FUNDS  FOR  VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION. 

(Chap.  105,  P.  L.  1919.) 

That  the  state  of  Maine  may  co-operate  with  the  federal 
government  in  the  extension  of  instruction  in  home  eco- 
nomics, agriculture  and  in  the  trades  and  industries  in  all- 
day  schools,  part-time  and  evening  classes  for  persons  over 
fourteen  years  of  age  who  are  to  enter  practical  work  in  these 
occupations  and  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  efficiency 
and  facilitating  advancement,  earning  capacity  and  promo- 
tion of  those  already  engaged  in  said  occupations  there  is 
hereby  appropriated  out  of  the  general  funds  of  the  state  the 
sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  for  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  nineteen  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  year  nine- 
teen hundred  and  twenty,  and  annually  thereafter.  Such 
funds  shall  be  used  under  the  direction  of  the  state  board 
for  vocational  education  for  instruction,  equipment,  super- 
vision and  for  the  payment  of  the  actual  necessary  expenses 
of  the  board  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  plans  and 
specifications  set  up  by  the  state  board  and  approved  by  the 
federal  board  for  vocational  education. 

AN  ACT  RELATING  TO  SCHOOLING  IN  UNORGAN- 
IZED  TERRITORY. 

(Chap.  127,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  i.  I.  All  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
twenty-one  years  who  reside  with  a  parent  or  legal  guardian 
in  unorganized  territory  within  this  state  (within  the  mean- 
ing of  this  act  unorganized  territory  shall  include  all  ter- 
ritory not  a  part  of  any  city,  town  or  plantation,  and  an 
unorganized  unit  shall  be  any  unorganized  township,  gore, 
strip,  tract,  surplus,  point,  patent,  peninsula,  island,  dis- 
organized town  or  plantation,  or  any  other  distinct  and 
separate  portion  of  unorganized  state  territory)  shall  be 
entitled  to  school  privileges  which  shall  be  provided  under 
the  direction  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  made  from  time 
to  time  by  him  and  approved  by  the  governor  and  council. 

II.  Elementary  school  privileges  may  be  provided  by  the 
state  superintendent  of  schools  by  establishing  and  maintain- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  75 

ing  in  the  unorganized  territory  such  elementary  schools,  the 
minimum  school  year  of  which  shall  be  thirty  weeks,  as  may 
seem  advisable  and  by  sending  such  children  to  elementary 
schools  anywhere  within  the  s'tate  as  tuition  pupils  as  he 
may  deem  expedient.  All  children  so  sent  by  the  state  super- 
intendent as  tuition  pupils  to  any  public  elementary  school 
in  the  state  shall  be  admitted  by  the  school  authorities  hav- 
ing charge  thereof  upon  receiving  notice  of  such  intention 
from  the  state  superintendent  or  any  of  his  duly  authorized 
agents  and  they  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges  and  bene- 
fits, and  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as 
children  residing  in  the  municipality  to  which  they  are  sent; 
tuition  shall  be  paid  by  the  state  for  said  pupils  in  accord- 
ance with  the  proportional  cost  per  pupil  of  the  school  at- 
tended unless  a  rate  of  tuition  is  otherwise  agreed  upon; 
transportation  or  board,  in  full  or  in  part,  may  be  paid  for 
such  pupils  at  the  discretion  of  the  state  superintendent. 

III.  Any  youth  who  resides  with  a  parent  or  legal  guard- 
ian in  the  unorganized  territory  of  this  state  and  who  may 
be  judged  by  the  state  superintendent  qualified  to  enter  a 
secondary  school  may  attend  any  such  school  in  the  state 
to  which  he  may  gain  entrance  by  permission  of  those  having 
charge   thereof,   provided   said   school   shall   be   of  standard 
grade  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools. 
In    such  case   the   tuition   of   such  youth   not  to   exceed   the 
same  amount  towns  not  supporting  and  maintaining  a  stand- 
ard secondary  school  are  required  by  law  to  pay  annually 
for  secondary  school   tuition,   shall,  provided  a  satisfactory 
standard  of   scholarship   and   deportment  is   maintained,   be 
paid  by  the  state  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may 
be  made  by  the  state  superintendent. 

IV.  Special  arrangements  may  be  made  to  provide  ele- 
mentary school  privileges  in  co-operation  with  the  United 
States  government  for  a  child  or  children  residing  with  a 
parent  or  legal  guardian  at  any  light  station,  fog  warning 
station,  life  saving  station,  or  other  place  within  a  United 
vStates  government  reservation,  under  such  rules  and  regula- 
tions as  may  be  made  by  the  state  superintendent  and  ap- 
proved by  the  governor  and  council. 

Sec.  2.     For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  preceding  section,  there  is  hereby  appropriated  the  sum 


76  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  annually,  which  sum  shall  be 
deducted  and  set  aside  therefor  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from 
the  annual  school  funds  of  the  state.  All  of  this  appropria- 
tion not  expended  during  any  financial  year,  shall,  on  the 
first  day  of  July  next  following,  be  added  to  the  permanent 
school  fund.  The  state  superintendent  is  hereby  authorized 
to  use  this  appropriation  for  any  purpose  in  connection  with 
the  schooling  of  children  in  the  unorganized  territory  of  the 
state,  including:  teachers'  salaries,  board  and  traveling 
expenses;  fuel  and  janitor  service;  tuition,  board  and  trans- 
portation of  elementary  school  pupils ;  secondary  school  tui- 
tion; textbooks,  school  apparatus  ^nd  supplies;  erection, 
equipment,  repair  and  maintenance  of  schoolhouses  and  re- 
quisite buildings,  all  of  which  schoolhouses  shall  conform  to 
the  minimum  requirements  for  school  buildings  as  provided 
by  section  fourteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes, 
as  amended;  lots  for  school  buildings  or  leases  thereof; 
services  and  expenses  of  agents  and  attendance  officers,  and 
clerical  assistance;  and  any  other  expenses  he  may  deem 
necessary. 

Sec.  3.  Before  school  privileges  are  provided  in  accord- 
ance with  section  one  of  this  act  for  a  child  or  children  in 
any  unorganized  unit  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  super- 
intendent through  his  agents  to  procure  returns  showing  an 
assessment  of  the  school  tax  as  provided  in  section  four,  and 
the  number  of  persons,  including  the  names  and  ages  of 
those  between  five  and  twenty-one  years,  resident  therein, 
together  with  such  other  information  as  he  may  deem  neces- 
sary, and  similar  returns  shall  be  required  by  him  annually 
thereafter  on  the  first  day  of  April,  or  corrected  to  the  first 
day  of  April,  as  long  as  school  privileges  are  so  provided. 

Sec.  4.  Whenever  school  privileges  are  first  provided  in 
accordance  with  section  one  of  this  act  for  a  child  or  children 
resident  in  any  unorganized  unit  and  annually  thereafter  on 
the  first  day  of  April  as  long  as  school  privileges  are  pro- 
vided, all  male  residents  of  such  unorganized  unit  twenty-one 
years  of  age  and  over  shall  be  assessed  and  shall  pay  to  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  or  his  duly  authorized 
agent  a  school  tax  of  three  dollars.  The  obligation  to  pay 
this  tax  shall  in  no  way  be  removed  in  case  a  resident  pays  or 
has  paid  a  poll  tax  in  a  town.  The  state  superintendent  shall 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

have  authority  to  abate  said  tax  in  any  case  when  conditions 
appear  to  warrant  such  action.  All  of  said  taxes  so  collected 
by  agents  shall  be  remitted  by  them  to  the  state  superin- 
tendent, who  shall  transfer  such  taxes  to  the  treasurer  of 
state  to  be  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  un- 
organized territory. 

Sec.  5.  The  state  superintendent  shall  have  authority  to 
appoint  agents  for  the  whole  and  any  portion  of  the  unor- 
ganized territory  and  said  agents  shall  perform  such  duties 
in  connection  with  the  schooling  of  children,  including  the 
assessing  and  collecting  of  the  school  tax,  as  the  state  super- 
intendent may  authorize  or  delegate  in  each  particular  ap- 
pointment. Said  agents  in  the  collection  of  the  school  tax 
aforesaid  shall  have  the  same  powers  and  may  use  the  same 
methods  as  collectors  of  taxes  in  towns  are  authorized  to 
exercise  and  use  for  the  collecting  of  personal  and  poll  taxes 
committed  to  them;  said  agents  shall  act  as  attendance 
officers  for  the  territory  covered  by  their  appointment. 
Special  attendance  officers  as  may  appear  necessary  may  be 
appointed  by  the  state  superintendent  for  any  unorganized 
unit.  Attendance  officers  for  the  unorganized  territory  shall 
have  the  same  authority  and  be  under  the  same  obligations 
as  provided  in  section  sixty-eight  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the 
revised  statutes,  with  such  changes  as  provided  in  section 
ten  of  this  act. 

Sec.  6.  I.  When  a  location  for  a  schoolhouse  and  requi- 
site buildings  in  any  unorganized  unit  has  been  designated  by 
the  state  superintendent  and  the  owner  thereof  refuses  to 
sell,  or,  in  the  opinion  of  the  state  superintendent  asks  an 
unreasonable  price  for  it,  or  resides  without  the  state  and 
has  no  authorized  agent  or  attorney  therein,  the  state  super- 
intendent or  his  duly  authorized  agent,  any  time  after  thirty 
days  from  the  time  of  notifying  the  said  owner  of  the  desig- 
nation of  said  lot,  may  lay  out  a  schoolhouse  lot,  not  exceed- 
ing three  acres,  and  appraise  the  damages ;  and  on  payment 
and  tender  of  such  damages,  or  if  said  owner  does  not  reside 
in  the  state,  upon  depositing  such  damages  with  the  state 
treasurer  for  his  use,  may  take  such  lot  to  be  held  and  used 
for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  and  should  a  school  building  not 
be  erected  thereon  within  a  period  of  three  years  from  the 
date  the  lot  was  taken  by  the  state,  it  shall  revert  to  the 


7£  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

owner,  his  heirs  or  assigns.  The  state  superintendent  may 
take  real  estate  for  the  enlargement  or  extension  of  any  loca- 
tion designated  for  the  erection  or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse 
and  requisite  buildings  and  playgrounds,  as  herein  provided ; 
but  no  real  estate  shall  be  so  taken  within  fifty  feet  of  a 
dwelling  house,  and  all  schoolhouse  lots  and  playgrounds 
that  require  fencing  shall  be  fenced  by  the  state. 

II.  If  the  owner  is  aggrieved  at  the  location  of  the  lot,  or 
the  damages  awarded,  he  may  apply  to  the  board  of  state 
assessors  within  three  months,  who  may  change  the  location 
and  assess  the  damages.  If  the  damages  are  increased  or  the 
location  changed,  the  state  shall  pay  the  damages  and  costs ; 
otherwise  the  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the  applicant. 

Sec.  7.  Whenever  any  unorganized  unit  becomes  organ- 
ized as  a  town  or  plantation  such  town  or  plantation  shall, 
within  two  years  of  the  date  of  said  organization,  through  the 
state  superintendent,  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  state  for  each 
school  building  within  its  limits  erected  or  remodeled  in  ac- 
cordance wih  this  act  a  sum  to  be  determined  by  the  state 
superintendent  and  not  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  cost  to  the 
state  of  such  building,  lot  and  improvements,  which  sum 
shall  be  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  unor- 
ganized territory.  A  record  shall  be  kept  by  the  state  super- 
intendent of  the  cost  of  all  such  buildings,  lots  and  improve- 
ments, which  shall  be  used  as  a  basis  for  such  settlement. 
It  is  further  provided  that  any  town  or  plantation  dissatisfied 
with  the  sum  determined  upon  by  the  state  superintendent 
in  such  case,  may,  after  a  vote  taken  by  the  town  or  planta- 
tion at  a  regular  or  special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose 
appeal  to  the  governor  and  council  who  shall  make  the  final 
decision  relative  thereto. 

Sec.  8.  Any  school  building  in  unorganized  territory  may 
be  used  and  held  for  school  purposes  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools,  and  all  repairs,  changes  or  addi- 
tions thereto  shall  be  made  under  his  direction  or  that  of  a 
duly  authorized  agent.  All  school  buildings  not  privately 
owned  in  unorganized  territory  shall  become  the  property  of 
the  state  upon  the  passage  of  this  act.  Whenever  a  town  or 
plantation  becomes  disorganized  by  act  of  the  legislature  all 
school  property  therein  shall  become  the  property  of  the 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  79 

state  and  under  the  charge  of  the  state  superintendent  the 
same  as  other  school  property  in  unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  9.  Whenever  the  civil  organization  of  any  town  or 
plantation  becomes  defunct  through  failure  to  hold  the  an- 
nual town  or  plantation  meeting,  failure  to  fill  vacancies  in 
necessary  offices,  or  in  any  other  manner,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  state  superintendent  of  schools  to  assume  charge  of 
all  school  property  therein,  to  require  an  accounting  for  all 
town  or  plantation  school  funds,  and  to  provide  school  priv- 
ileges for  children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  of 
age  whose  parents  are  residents  of  such  town  or  plantation, 
until  such  time  as  it  shall  recover  its  civil  organization  or  is 
disorganized  by  act  of  the  legislature.  The  state  superin- 
tendent may  provide  the  school  privileges  in  such  manner 
as  he  may  deem  expedient  under  the  supervision  of  any  of 
the  agents  of  the  unorganized  territory  or  a  special  agent 
appointed  by  him  for  the  purpose.  The  expense  of  such 
school  privileges  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriation  for 
schooling  in  unorganized  territory  and  in  case  any  such  town 
cr  plantation  recovers  its  civil  organization  within  a  period 
of  two  years  the  amount  of  any  such  expense  paid  by  the 
state  shall,  upon  recommendation  of  the  state  superintendent 
of  schools,  be  deducted  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from  any 
school  funds  that  may  subsequently  become  payable  to  such 
town  or  plantation  by  the  state  and  credited  to  the  appro- 
priation for  schooling  in  unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  10.  The  compulsory  school  attendance  laws,  child 
labor  laws  and  sections  fifty-three  and  fifty-four  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-two,  inclu- 
sive, of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes,  shall  apply  to 
children  of  the  unorganized  territory  of  the  state  the  same  as 
to  the  children  of  cities,  towns  and  plantations  with  such 
changes  thereof  relative  to  officials,  courts,  disposal  of  fines, 
etc.,  as  may  be  made  by  the  state  superintendent  and  ap- 
proved by  a  judge  of  the  supreme  judicial  court  to  make 
these  laws  applicable  to  the  unorganized  territory  while 
retaining  the  general  principles  of  the  laws;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  to  have  these  laws,  with 
the  changes  as  made,  printed  in  sufficient  quantity  for  use  in 
the  unorganized  territory,  and  to  supply  to  any  person  mak- 
ing application  therefor. 


80  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

Sec.  ii.  Sections  one  hundred  and  fifteen,  one  hundred 
and  sixteen,  one  hundred  and  seventeen,  as  amended  by 
chapter  fifty-one  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
seventeen;  one  hundred  and  eighteen,  as  amended  by  chap- 
ter sixty-five  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
seventeen ;  and  one  hundred  and  nineteen  of  chapter  six- 
teen of  the  revised  statutes,  are  hereby  repealed. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  PART-TIME  AND  EVENING 
SCHOOL  CLASSES  FOR  PERSONS  BETWEEN  THE 
AGES  OF  FOURTEEN  AND  EIGHTEEN  YEARS 
EMPLOYED  IN  INDUSTRIAL  ESTABLISHMENTS 
WHO  HAVE  NOT  COMPLETED  THE  ELEMEN- 
TARY SCHOOL. 

(Chap.  205,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Sec.  i.  In  order  to  improve  the  industrial  and  civic  effi- 
ciency of  persons  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  eighteen 
now  engaged  in  industrial  occupations  and  who  have  not 
reached  the  proficiency  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  lan- 
guage, geography,  history  and  citizenship  required  for  the 
completion  of  the  elementary  school  course  as  recognized 
in  the  schools  of  the  state  of  Maine,  the  superintending1 
school  committee  and  boards  of  education  of  the  towns  and 
cities  of  the  state  are  hereby  authorized  to  establish  part- 
time  or  part-time  continuation  schools  and  classes  for  the 
benefit  of  such  persons.  For  the  purpose  of  this  act  a  part- 
time  continuation  school  or  class  shall  be  understood  to  mean 
such  schools  or  classes  as  are  conducted  during  the  regular 
working  hours  of  the  persons  employed.  Such  schools  shall 
cover  one  hundred  and  forty-four  hours  per  year  and  meet 
the  standards  set  up  by  the  state  board  for  vocational  edu- 
cation. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  any 
town  or  city,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  shall  report 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  schools  that  part-time  or  part- 
time  continuation  schools  and  classes  have  been  maintained 
in  accordance  with  the  specified  standards,  and  when  such 
schools  and  classes  shall  be  approved  by  the  state  board  for 
vocational  education,  the  state  superintendent  shall  recom- 
mend to  the  governor  and  council  annually  in  December  the 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  81 

payment  of  reimbursement  from  federal  funds  designated  for 
part-time  schools  and  from  state  funds  provided  for  indus- 
trial education  to  the  extent  of  two-thirds  the  cost  of  instruc- 
tion. 

Sec.  3.  This  act  shall  not  be  construed  to  interfere  in  any 
manner  with  the  provisions  of  chapter  forty-nine  of  the  re- 
vised statutes  relating  to  child  labor  and  the  amendments 
thereto. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  UPKEEP,  EQUIPMENT 
AND  EXTENSIONS  FOR  THE  SEVERAL  NORMAL 
SCHOOLS  AND  THE  MADAWASKA  TRAINING 
SCHOOL. 

(Chap.  217,  P.  L.  1919.) 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  need  of  more  and  better  trained 
teachers  for  the  schools  of  the  state  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  state  normal  schools  is  hereby  authorized  to  provide  for 
upkeep,  equipment  and  extensions  of  the  several  normal 
schools  and  the  Madawaska  Training  School,  for  which  pur- 
pose there  shall  be  appropriated  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand 
dollars  beginning  with  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-one, and  the  same  amount  annually  thereafter,  to  be  ex- 
pended under  the  direction  of  the  board  of  state  normal 
school  trustees  for  extensions  in  building^,  repairs  and  equip- 
ment ;  and  if  it  appears  to  the  governor  and  council  that  an 
emergency  exists  requiring  extensions  in  any  normal  school 
prior  to  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty-one  they  are 
hereby  authorized  to  provide  such  amounts  as  in  their  judg- 
ment may  be  necessary  therefor  out  of  such  funds  as  are  not 
otherwise  appropriated. 

AN  ACT  FOR  THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  SANITARY 
CONDITIONS  IN  SCHOOL  BUILDING  TOILETS. 

(Chap.  33,  P.  L.  1921.) 

Sec.  i.  In  order  to  safeguard  the  health  and  morals  of 
the  children  of  the  state,  towns  shall  from  their  regular 
appropriations  for  schoolhouse  repairs,  or  from  special 
appropriations  for  the  purposes  of  this  .act,  provided  and 
maintain  sanitary,  protected  and  clean  toilets  free  from  all 
6 


82  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

obscene  markings  in  all  school  buildings  or  in  other  build- 
ings rented  or  used  for  school  purposes. 

Sec.  2.  On  and  after  the  first  day  of  September,  nineteen 
hundred  and  twenty-four,  all  school  buildings  or  buildings 
used  for  school  purposes  shall  be  provided  with  toilet  facili- 
ties that  shall  be  installed  in  such  manner  and  location  as  to 
insure  privacy,  cleanliness  and  supervision  by  teachers  and 
that  shall  meet  at  least  one  of  the  following  minimum  re- 
quirements: 

(a)  Flush  water  closets  connected  with  sewer,  filter  bed, 
septic  tanks  or  protected   cesspool  with   separate   compart- 
ments for  the  sexes,  accessible  only  by  separate  passageways 
from  school  rooms  or  corridors. 

(b)  Chemical  closets,  of  such  types  and  manufacture  as 
shall  be  approved    by  the    state    superintendent  of    public 
schools,  with  separate  compartments  for  the  sexes  accessible 
only  by  separate  passageways   from   school   rooms  or   cor- 
ridors. 

(c)  Privies  located  in  attached  buildings  provided  with 
separate  compartments  for  the  sexes,  accessible  only  by  sep- 
arate ventilated  passageways  from  school  rooms  or  corridors 
and   constructed   in   such   a   manner  that  the  vault  of  said 
privy  shall  be  at  least  ten  feet  from  the  nearest  school  room 
wall  and    adjacent  to  the    outside  wrall    of    the  building  in 
which  said  privy  is^  located. 

Sec.  3.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
furnish  to  superintending  school  committees  or  building  com- 
mittees plans  for  privies  of  approved  type,  lists  of  chemical 
toilets  of  approved  type  and  manufacture  and  such  other 
information  and  material  as  may  assist  said  committees  in 
complying  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  4.  Superintending  school  committees  shall  make  pro- 
vision for  the  cleaning  of  vaults  and  tanks  and  the  repair 
and  upkeep  of  accessories.  Said  committee  shall  annually 
cause  an  inspection  to  be  made  of  sanitary  conditions  in 
school  buildings  and  shall  cause  to  be  reported  to  the  town 
such  construction,  reconstruction  or  repairs  necessary  to 
meet  the  conditions  of  this  act  and  any  town  failing  to  meet 
the  said  conditions  through  neglect  of  its  superintending 
school  committee  or  neglect  to  appropriate  funds  for  the 
purpose  shall  be  liable  to  the  penalties  of  section  nineteen 
of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  83 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  ACCEPTANCE  OF 
THE  BENEFITS  OF  AN  ACT  BY  THE  SENATE 
AND  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  CON- 
GRESS ASSEMBLED  ENTITLED  "AN  ACT  TO 
PROVIDE  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  VOCA- 
TIONAL REHABILITATON  OF  PERSONS  DIS- 
ABLED IN  INDUSTRY  AND  OTHERWISE  AND 
THEIR  RETURN  TO  CIVIL  EMPLOYMENT;"  AND 
TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
THE  SAME. 

(Chap.  97,  P.  L.  1921.) 

Sec.  i.  The  State  of  Maine  hereby,  through  its  legisla- 
tive authority,  accepts  the  provisions  and  benefits  of  the  act 
of  Congress  entitled  "An  Act  to  Provide  for  the  Promotion 
of  Vocational  Rehabilitation  of  Persons  Injured  in  Industry 
or  Otherwise"  approved  June  second,  nineteen  hundred  and 
twenty,  and  will  observe  and  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  said  act. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  treasurer  is  hereby  designated  and  ap- 
pointed custodian  of  all  moneys  received  by  the  state  from 
appropriations  made  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
for  the  vocational  rehabilitation  of  persons  disabled  in  in- 
dustry or  otherwise,  and  is  authorized  to  receive  and  pro- 
vide for  the  proper  custody  of  the  same  and  to  make  dis- 
bursements therefrom  upon  the  order  of  the  state  board  for 
vocational  education  herein  designated. 

Sec.  3.  The  state  board  for  vocational  education,  as  pro- 
vided by  section  two  of  chapter  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and  seventeen  of 
the  state  of  Maine,  is  hereby  authorized  to  co-operate  with 
the  federal  board  for  vocational  education  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  provisions  of  this  act;  to  prescribe  and  pro- 
vide such  courses  of  instruction  and  training  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  vocational  rehabilitation  of  persons  in- 
jured in  industry  or  otherwise,  and  to  provide  for  the  instruc- 
tion and  supervision  of  such  training. 

Sec.  4.  The  state  board  for  vocational  education  is  hereby 
authorized  to  co-operate  with  the  state  industrial  accident 
commission,  charged  with  the  administration  of  the  state 
workmen's  compensation  laws,  to  formulate  a  plan  of  co- 


84  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

operation  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  and 
the  said  act  of  Congress;  said  plan  to  become  effective  when 
approved  by  the  governor  of  the  state. 

Sec.  5.  The  state  board  for  vocational  education  is  here- 
by authorized  and  empowered  to  receive  such  gifts  and 
donations,  either  from  public  or  private  sources  as  may  be 
offered  unconditionally,  or  under  such  conditions  related 
to  the  vocational  rehabilitation  of  persons  injured  in  indus- 
try or  otherwise  as  in  their  judgment  are  proper  and  con- 
sistent with  the  provisions  of  this  act.  All  moneys  received 
as  gifts  or  donations  shall  be  deposited  in  the  state  treasury 
and  shall  constitute  a  permanent  fund  to  be  called  the  spec- 
ial fund  for  the  vocational  rehabilitation  of  disabled  persons, 
to  be  used  by  said  board  'to  defray  the  expenses  of  voca- 
tional rehabilitation  in  special  cases,  including  the  payment 
of  necessary  expenses  of  persons  undergoing  training.  The 
funds  set  apart  in  chapter  one  hundred  and  five  of  the  re- 
solves of  nineteen  hundred  and  nineteen  for  the  purpose 
of  co-operating  with  the  federal  board  for  vocational  educa- 
tion are  applicable  to  this  act  also. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  TEMPERANCE  DAY  IN 
THE     PUBLIC     SCHOOLS     IN     THE     STATE     OF 

MAINE. 

(Chap.  109,  P.  L.  1921.) 

Sec.  i.  The  first  Friday  in  March  of  each  year  or  the 
school  day  in  each  year  nearest  that  date  shall  be  designated 
as  Temperance  Day,  and  in  every  public  school  in  the  state 
of  Maine  not  less  than  forty-five  minutes  of  the  school  ses- 
sion shall  be  set  apart  and  used  for  instruction  and  appro- 
priate exercises  relative  to  the  history  and  benefits  of  prohi- 
bition and  prohibitory  laws ;  said  schools  to  continue  their 
work  so  far  as  practicable  during  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of 
schools  to  prepare  suitable  material  for  the  observance  of 
Temperance  Day.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  school  officials 
in  the  several  towns  of  the  state  and  all  public  school 
teachers  within  the  state  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of 
this  act. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  85 

AN  ACT  TO  ESTABLISH  THE  STATE  SCHOOL 
FUND  AND  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  APPORTION- 
MENT OF  THE  SAME. 

(Chap.  173,  P.  L.  1921.) 

Sec.  i.  A  tax  of  three  and  one-third  mills  on  a  dollar  shall 
annually  be  assessed  upon  all  the  property  in  the  state 
according  to  the  value  thereof  and  said  tax  shall  be  assessed 
and  collected  in  the  same  manner  as  other  state  taxes  and 
be  paid  into  the  state  treasury.  To  the  fund  resulting  from 
said  tax  the  treasurer  of  state  annually  shall  add  a  sum  equal 
to  six  per  cent  of  the  permanent  school  fund,  as  provided  by 
law,  and  a  sum  equal  to  one-half  the  amount  received  by  the 
state  from  the  tax  on  the  franchises  of  savings  banks  and 
on  the  deposits  of  trust  and  banking  companies,  as  provided 
by  law.  The  sum  total  of  the  amount  so  assessed  and  col- 
lected shall  be  designated  the  state  school  fund  and  after 
the  deduction  therefrom  of  all  funds  and  appropriations 
which  the  treasurer  of  state  is  authorized  by  law  to  deduct, 
the  balance  shall  be  distributed  among  the  several  cities, 
towns  and  plantations  of  the  state  in  the  manner  provided 
for  by  this  act  to  be  expended  by  said  cities,  towns  and 
plantations  for  the  maintenance  and  support  of  elementary 
and  secondary  schools  established  and  controlled  by  them. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act  the  following  terms 
are  defined : 

The  term  "elementary  school"  shall  be  understood  to  in- 
clude that  part  of  the  school  organization  of  a  town  in  which 
is  offered  a  program  of  studies  preceding  that  offered  by  a 
Class  A  high  school  as  defined  by  section  seventy-three  of 
chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 

The  term  "secondary  school"  shall  be  understood  to  in- 
clude that  part  of  the  school  organization  of  a  town  offering 
a  program  of  studies  as  included  in  Class  A  high  schools  or 
any  part  thereof  as  defined  by  section  seventy-three  of  chap- 
ter sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes  and  as  arranged  for  by 
the  establishment  and  maintenance  of. a  free  high  school,  a 
union  high  school  or  by  contract  with  the  superintending 
school  committee  of  an  adjoining  town  or  with  the  trustees 
of  an  academy  within  the  town  or  in  an  adjoining  town  as 
provided  for  by  section  eighty-four  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the 
revised  statutes. 


86  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

The  term  "teaching  positions"  shall  be  understood  to  mean 
positions  in  elementary  and  secondary  schools  filled  by  class- 
room teachers,  assistant  classroom  teachers, ,  school  prin- 
cipals, school  nurses,  supervisors,  assistants  to  supervisors 
and  teachers  of  special  subjects  except  when  any  such  posi- 
tion is  used  as  a  basis  for  payment  of  state  aid  under  the 
provisions  of  the  laws  encouraging  industrial,  vocational  and 
physical  education  or  when  any  such  position  is  filled  by  a 
person  devoting  less  than  half  of  the  school  day  to  the  duties 
of  such  positions.  Provided,  however,  that  the  number  of 
teaching  positions  in  a  secondary  school  shall  be  reckoned 
in  such  ratio  to  the  actual  number  of  such  positions  as  the 
aggregate  .attendance  of  pupils  residents  of  the  town  is  to 
the  aggregate  attendance  of  all  pupils  regularly  enrolled  in 
the  school  and  provided,  further,  that  a  teaching  position  in 
an  elementary  or  a  secondary  school  maintained  for  any 
part  of  the  school  year  shall  be  reckoned  in  such  ratio  to  a 
complete  position  as  the  number  of  weeks  which  the  position 
was  maintained  is  to  the  number  of  weeks  schools  of  the 
town  were  maintained. 

The  term  "school  census"  shall  be  understood  to  mean 
the  number  of  persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty- 
one  years  as  provided  for  by  section  forty-nine  of  chapter 
sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 

The  term  "aggregate  attendance"  shall  be  understood  to 
include  the  total  number  of  days  of  attendance  for  any  one 
school  year  of  each  regularly  enrolled  pupil  resident  of  the 
town  in  elementary  and  secondary  schools;  provided  that 
the  attendance  of  each  pupil  present  on  the  day  preceding 
shall  be  counted  for  each  school  holiday  within  any  school 
term,  for  each  day  of  the  school  year  when  there  is  no  ses- 
sion of  school  because  of  absence  of  the  teacher  in  attend- 
ance on  teachers'  meetings,  as  provided  by  law  and  for  not 
more  than  one  day  in  each  term  when  there  is  no  session 
of  school  because  of  the  absence  of  the  teacher  in  visiting 
other  schools  when  so  authorized  by  the  superintending 
school  committee. 

Sec.  3.  On  the  first  day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred  twenty- 
two,  and  annually  thereafter,  the  state  auditor  shall  report 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  the  amount  of 
the  state  school  fund  and  all  deductions  therefrom  provided 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  87 

for  by  law,  and  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  apportion  said  state  school  fund  to  the  several  cities, 
towns  and  plantations  in  the  manner  provided  for  by^  this 
act  and  shall  transmit  a  report  of  said  apportionment  to  the 
governor  and  council.  Upon  approval  of  said  report  by  the 
governor  and  council  there  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurers 
of  said  towns  in  December  nineteen  hundred  twenty-two 
and  annually  thereafter  the  amounts  so  apportioned. 

Sec.  4.  In  addition  to  the  other  funds  and  appropriations 
provided  for  by  law  to  be  deducted  from  the  state  school 
fund,  there  shall  annually  be  deducted  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  the  same  to  be  denominated  the  school 
equalization  fund  and  to  be  apportioned  and  distributed  in 
the  manner  and  for  the  purposes  provided  for  by  section 
nine  of  this  act.  From  the  state  school  fund  there  shall  also 
be  apportioned  such  sums  as  may  be  required  for  payment 
to  towns  for  reimbursement  of  tuition  in  secondary  schools 
as  provided  for  by  section  five  of  this  act,  and  such  sums 
as  may  be  required  for  payment  to  towns  on  account  of 
teaching  positions  maintained  as  provided  for  by  section  six 
of  this  act,  and  such  sums  as  may  be  required  for  apportion- 
ment to  towns  on  the  basis  of  school  census  as  provided  for 
by  section  seven  of  this  act,  and  the  balance  of  said  state 
school  fund  shall  be  apportioned  and  distributed  to  towns 
on  the  basis  of  aggregate  attendance  as  provided  for  by 
section  eight  of  this  act. 

Sec.  5.  When  any  town  shall  have  been  required  to  pay 
and  has  paid  tuition  for  pupils  attending  secondary  schools, 
as  provided  by  section  eighty-five  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the 
revised  statutes,  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  such  town 
shall  make  a  return  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  before  the  first  day  of  September,  nineteen 
hundred  and  twenty-two,  and  annually  thereafter,  for  the 
preceding  school  year,  stating  the  name  of  each  pupil  for 
whom  tuition  has  been  paid,  the  amount  paid  by  the  town 
for  each  and  the  name  and  location  of  the  school  which  each 
has  attended.  Upon  the  approval  of  said  return  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  apportion  to  such  town 
a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the  amount  thus  paid  by  such 
town  not  to  exceed  forty  dollars  for  any  one  pupil  or  six 
hundred  dollars  for  any  one  town.  Provided,  further,  that 


88  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

tuition  for  such  pupils  may  be  paid  by  towns  to  an  amount 
not  exceeding  the  average  cost  per  pupil  for  the  year  pre- 
ceding that  for  which  the  tuition  is  paid  in  the  school 
attended  by  such  pupil  but  such  payment  by  any  town  shall 
not  exceed  one  hundred  dollars  for  any  pupil  for  any  one 
year. 

Sec.  6.  On  the  basis  of  information  furnished  to  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  by  the  return  of  educational 
statistics  for  the  year  ending  July  first,  nineteen  hundred  and 
twenty-two,  and  annually  thereafter,  as  provided  for  by  sec- 
tion fifty-one  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes,  said 
state  superintendent  shall  apportion  to  each  town  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  dollars  for  each  teaching  position,  or  a  corre- 
sponding fractional  part  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  frac- 
tional part  of  a  teaching  position  maintained  in  the  elemen- 
tary and  secondary  schools  of  such  town. 

Sec.  7.  On  the  basis  of  the  school  census  of  the  towns 
on  April  first,  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty-two,  and  annu- 
ally thereafter,  as  returned  under  the  provisions  of  section 
fifty  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes,  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  apportion  to  each  town 
the  amount  of  three  dollars  for  each  person  returned  in  the 
school  census  for  said  town. 

Sec.  8.  On  the  basis  of  information  furnished  to  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  by  the  return  of  educational 
statistics  for  the  year  ending  July  first,  nineteen  hundred 
and  twenty-two,  and  annually  thereafter,  as  provided 'for  by 
section  fifty-one  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes, 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  apportion 
to  the  several  towns  the  amount  available  for  this  purpose 
on  the  basis  of  the  aggregate  attendance  of  pupils  in  elemen- 
tary and  secondary  schools  maintained  by  those  towns. 

Sec.  9.  The  school  equalization  fund  shall  be  apportioned 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  to  the  towns 
qualified  to  receive  aid  from  said  fund  as  follows : 

I.  Whenever  any  school  lawfully  established  and  main- 
tained by  a  town  for  the  number  of  weeks  of  school  provided 
for  in  said  town  fails  to  record  at  least  fifteen  hundred  days 
aggregate  attendance  for  the  pupils  enrolled  in  said  school, 
there  may  be  apportioned  to  the  town  maintaining  said 
School  such  amount  as,  added  to  the  amount  already -appor- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  89 

tioned  under  section  eight  of  this  act  on  account  of  aggregate 
attendance  in  said  school,  will  give  to  said  town  on  account 
of  said  school  an  amount  equal  to  that  apportioned  for  fif- 
teen hundred  days  aggregate  attendance. 

II.  When   any   school   has   been   closed  by   order  of  the 
proper  authorities  because  of  the  prevalence  of  an  epidemic 
or  because  of  the  unfitness  of  the  school  building  from  the 
effects  of  fire  or  other  unpreventable  causes  and  when  the 
teacher  employed   in   said   school   has   received  pay  for  the 
period  for  which  the  school  has  been  closed,  there  may  be 
apportioned  to  the  town  in  which  said  school  is  located  a 
sum  equal  to  that  which  would  have  been  apportioned  under 
the  provisions  of  section  eight  of  this  act  for  the  aggregate 
attendance  of  pupils  regularly  enrolled  in  said  school  during 
the  period  in  which  it  was  'closed,  provided,  however,  that 
such  attendance  shall  not  be  reckoned  beyond  fifteen  days 
of  such  a  period  and  provided  further,  that  such  attendance 
shall  not  be  reckoned  if  the  time  so  lost  was  made  up  within 
the  school  year  with  no  additional  expenditure  for  the  wages 
of  the  teacher  therefor. 

III.  Whenever  any  school   is  closed  or  suspended  after 
this  act  becomes  effective  as  provided  for  by  section  two  of 
chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes  and  pupils  attending 
such   school   have   been   conveyed   to   another  school   under 
such  conditions  of  conveyance  as  may  be  approved  by  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  there  may  be  appor- 
tioned to  the  town  in  which  such  school  was  maintained  such 
amount    as,    added    to   the    amount   apportioned    under    the 
provisions  of  section  six  of  this  act  on  account  of  teaching 
positions,  will  give  to  said  town,  on  account  of  said  school, 
the   same  amount  as   though  this  position   had  been   main- 
tained for  the  entire  year.     'Provided,  further,  that  so  long 
as  said  school  remains  closed  and  satisfactory  conveyance 
is  maintained  there  may  be  apportioned  the  same  amount  as 
for  the  maintenance  of  a  teaching  position,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  the  amount  so  apportioned  shall  not  exceed  one- 
half  the  cost  of  such  conveyance. 

IV.  Whenever  any  town   through   its  superintendent  or 
superintending  school   committee  shall  submit  to  the  state 
superintendent  of  'public  schools  a  definite,' plan  for  consoli- 
dation of  schools,  conveyance  of  'pupils,  housing  of  teachers, 


90  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

standardization  of  schools,  or  other  projects  especially 
worthy  of  encouragement,  said  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  shall  investigate  such  plan  and  upon  approval  of 
the  same  may  recommend  to  the  governor  and  council  the 
payment  to  such  town  of  an  amount,  not  exceeding  five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  any  one  year,  as  an  encouragement  to  such 
plan  or  project,  provided,  however,  that  the  total  amount 
available  for  aid  under  this  paragraph  shall  not  exceed  ten 
per  cent  of  the  equalization  fund. 

V.     Such  amount  of  the  school  equalization  fund  not  ap- 
portioned as  provided  for  by  the  four  preceding  paragraphs 
•shall   be  apportioned   to  towns  wherein   a  rate  of  taxation 
considerably  in  excess  of  the  .average  rate  for  the  state  fails 
to  produce  a  school  revenue  sufficient  to  secure  a  reasonable 
standard  of  educational  efficiency;    provided,  that  the  rate 
of   taxation   hereinbefore   named   shall   be   reckoned  on   the 
basis  of  the  amount  or  amounts  actually  raised1  by  taxation 
by  the  town  for  the  support  of  elementary  and  secondary1 
schools  for  the  purposes  named  in  section  eleven  of  this  act, 
exclusive  of  any  amounts  received  from  the  state ;   provided, 
further,   that  no   town   shall   receive   an   apportionment   out 
of  the  school  equalization  fund  unless  its  municipal  tax  rate 
for  all  purposes  shall  be  in  excess  of  a  rate  which  is  three 
mills  less  than  the  average  of  such  rates  for  all  the  towns 
of   the   state.     The   state   superintendent   of   public   schools 
shall  cause  a  special  investigation  to  be  made  of  the  educa- 
tional facilities  of  such  towns  and,  whenever  it  appears  to 
the  state  superintendent  that  any  town  should  receive  special 
aid  or  encouragement  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  stand- 
ard of  qualifications  of  teachens  or  of  increasing  the  length 
of  the  school  year  or  otherwise  adding  to  the  efficiency  of 
the   schools,   he   shall   issue  to  the   governor  and   council  a 
recommendation     relative    thereto,     and    the    governor    and 
council  -may  draw  a  warrant  in  favor  of  the  treasurer  of  said 
town  for  the  payment  from  the  equalization  fund  of  a  sum 
which  shall  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  superin- 
tending school  committee  of  said  town  in  accordance  with 
the  recommendation  as  made  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools.     The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
may   expend    for   the   special    investigation   of    educational 
facilities  as  herein  provided  a  sum  not  to  exceed  two  thou- 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  91 

sand  dollars  which  shall  be  deducted  from  the  equalization 
fund. 

Sec.  10.  Amounts  apportioned  from  the  state  school  funds 
on  account  of  union  elementary  schools  shall  <be  paid  £0  the 
town  in  which  said  school  is  located  and  the  amounts  to  be 
contributed  by  each  town  for  the  'maintenance  of  such  school 
shall  be  determined  by  the  superintending  school  committees 
of  the  said  towns.  Amounts  apportioned  on  account  of 
union  high  schools  shall  be  paid  to  the  towns  maintaining 
said  school  in  proportion  to  the  aggregate  attendance  of 
pupils  resident  of  each  of  said  towns. 

Sec.  ii.  Amounts  received  by  the  towns  from  the  state 
school  fund  may  be  expended  by  said  towns,  in  conjunction 
with  such  funds  as  the  towns  shall  iraise  and  appropriate, 
for  the  following  purposes  in  both  elementary  and  secondary 
schools :  the  payment  of  teachers'  wages  and  board,  fuel, 
janitors'  services,  conveyance,  ftuition  and  board  of  pupils, 
textbooks,  reference  books  and  school  supplies  for  desk  or 
laboratory  use.  The  unexpended  balance  of  all  moneys 
raised  by  towns  or  received  from  the  state  for  the  above 
purposes  shall  be  credited  to  the  school  resources  for  the 
year  following  that  in  which  said  unexpended  balance  ac- 
crued. 

Sec.  12.  One-half  the  amount  received  by  any  town  from 
the  apportionment  provided  by  this  act  shall  be  deemed 
to  be  raised  by  such  town  within  the  meaning  of  section 
sixteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 

Sec.  13.  Whenever  the  information  required  for  the  pur- 
poses of  this  act  is  not  available,  because  of  the  failure  of 
the  town,  through  its  officers,  to  make  the  returns  required 
by  law,  or  because  of  the  loss  or  destruction  of  the  school 
records  of  a  town,  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
may  use  as  a  basis  for  apportionment  numbers  on  which 
the  apportionment  for  said  town  was  made  for  the  preced- 
ing year  less  ten  per  cent.  But  no  apportionment  as  pro- 
vided by  this  act  shall  be  paid  to  any  town  by  the  treasurer 
of  state  until  returns  required  by  law  have  been  filed  with 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  ^chools,  nor  so  long  as 
any  state  tax  assessed  upon  such  town  remains  unpaid. 

Sec.  14.  Whenever  in  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  stat- 
utes authority  is  given  to  deduct  appropriations  or  funds 


92  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

from  state  school  funds  or  from  the  school  mill  fund,  it  shall 
be  understood  that  such  deductions  shall  be  made  from  the 
state  school  fund  as  described  in  section  one  of  this  act. 

Sec.  15.  All  unexpended  balances  of  the  state  school  fund 
or  of  any  funds  or  .appropriations  deducted  therefrom  shall, 
at  the  close  of  the  year  for  which  said  fund  or  appropriation 
is  available,  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund  of  the 
state. 

Sec.  16.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this 
act  are  hereby  repealed.  Such  acts  so  repealed  include  all 
of  the  following  sections  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised 
statutes :  Sections  seventy-two,  seventy-four  and  seventy- 
seven  providing  for  state  aid  to  free  high  schools ;  section 
eighty-six  providing  for  secondary  school  reimbursement; 
sections  one  hundred  and  fifty-four,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five,  one  hundred  and  fifty-six,  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven, 
one  hundred  and  fifty-eight,  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  one 
hundred  and  sixty,  one  hundred  and  sixty-one,  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two,  one  hundred  and  sixty-three,  one  hundred 
,and  sixty-four  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  providing  for 
the  assessment  and  distribution  of  the  school  mill  fund  and 
the  common  school  fund ;  section  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
six,  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  and  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  providing  for  ;the  creation  and  distribution  of  the 
equalization  fund ;  chapter  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and  nineteen  provid- 
ing for  an  equalization  fund  for  secondary  schools  is  also 
repealed. 

EMPLOYMENT   OF   CHILDREN. 

(Sections  20-31  of  Chap.  49,  Revised  Statutes  as  amended  by 
Chap.  146,  P.  L.  1917  and  Chap.  190,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Sec.  20.  Employment  of  children  under  fourteen  years  of 
age  regulated.  1915,  c.  327,  §  i.  No  child  under  fourteen 
years  of  age  shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work 
in,  about,  or  in  connection  with  any  manufacturing  or  me- 
chanical establishment.  No  child  under  fifteen  years  of  age 
shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work  at  any 
business  or  service  for  hire,  whatever,  during  the  hours  that 
the  public  schools  of  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  resides 
are  in  session. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  93 

Sec.  21.  Regulations  for  employment  of  minors  between 
fourteen  and  sixteen  years  of  age ;  issuance  of  work  permits ; 
physician's  certificate  may  be  required.  1915,  c.  327,  §  2. 

No  minor  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  years 
shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work  in  any  of 
the  aforementioned  occupations  unless  the  person,  firm  or 
corporation  employing  such  child  procures  and  keeps  on 
file  accessible  to  any  attendance  officer,  factory  inspector  or 
other  authorized  officer  charged  with  the  enforcement  of 
section  twenty  to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter, 
a  work  permit  issued  to  said  child  by  the  superintendent  of 
schools  of  the  city  or  town  in  which  the  child  resides,  or  by 
some  person  authorized  by  him  in  writing.  The  person  au- 
thorized to  issue  a  work  permit  shall  not  issue  such  permit 
until  such  child  has  furnished  such  issuing  officer  a  certificate 
signed  by  the  principal  of  the  school  last  attended  show- 
ing that  the  child  can  read  and  write  correctly  simple  sen- 
tences in  the  English  language  and  that  he  has  satisfactorily 
completed  the  studies  covered  in  the  first  six  yearly  grades 
of  the  elementary  public  schools,  or  their  equivalent ;  in  case 
such  certificate  cannot  be  obtained,  then  the  officer  issuing 
the  work  permit  shall  examine  such  child  to  determine 
whether  he  can  meet  the  educational  standard  specified  and 
shall  file  in  his  office  a  statement  setting  forth  the  result  of 
such  examination ;  nor  until  he  has  received,  examined,  ap- 
proved and  filed  satisfactory  evidence  of  age  showing  that 
the  child  is  fourteen  years  old  or  upwards;  such  evidence 
shall  consist  of  a  certified  copy  of  the  town  clerk's  record  of 
the  birth  of  said  child,  or  a  certified  copy  of  his  baptismal 
record,  showing  the  date  of  his  birth  and  place  of  baptism,  or 
a  passport  showing  the  date  of  birth-  In  the  event  of  the 
minor  being  unable  to  produce  the  evidence  heretofore  men- 
tioned, and  the  person  authorized  to  issue  the  work  permit 
being  satisfied  of  that  fact,  the  said  work  permit  may  be 
issued  on  other  documentary  evidence  of  age  satisfactory  to 
the  person  authorized  to  issue  the  work  permit,  provided 
said  documentary  evidence  has  been  approved  by  the  state 
commissioner  of  labor-  The  superintendent  of  schools,  or 
the  person  authorized  to  issue  such  wrork  permit  may  re- 
quire, in  doubtful  cases,  a  certificate  signed  by  a  physician 
appointed  by  the  school  board,  or,  in  case  there  is  no  school 


94  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

physician,  from  the  medical  officer  of  the  board  of  health, 
stating  that  such  child  has  Ibeen  examined  by  him,  and,  in 
his  opinion,  has  reached  the  normal  development  of  a  child 
of  its  age  and  is  in  sufficiently  sound  health  and  physically 
able  to  perform  the  work  which  he  intends  to  do.  The  state 
factory  inspector,  his  deputy  or  agent,  may  require  a  similar 
certificate  in  doubtful  cases,  of  the  minors  employed  under  a 
work  permit.  A  work  permit  when  duly  issued  shall  excuse 
such  child  from  attendance  at  public  school ;  but  no  person 
shall  issue  such  permit  to  ,any  minor  then  in  or  about  to 
enter  his  employment  or  the  employment  of  the  firm  or  cor- 
poration of  which  he  is  a  member,  stockholder,  officer  or 
employee. 

Sec.  22.  Vacation  permits  for  work  during  summer  vaca- 
tion. 1915,  c.  327,  §  2.  Vacation  permits  shall  be  issued  by 
the  local  superintendent  of  schools,  or  by  some  person  au- 
thorized by  him  in  writing,  to  minors  between  fourteen  and 
sixteen  years  of  age,  on  satisfaction  of  the  same  require- 
ments, with  the  exception  of  the  educational  qualifications, 
as  for  the  regular  work  permits,  and  shall  entitle  their 
holders  to  work  during  the  summer  school  vacation.  These 
permits  shall  be  void  after  the  first  Monday  of  September 
following.  They  shall  be  known  as  vacation  permits,  shall 
be  of  different  color  from  the  work  permits  and  shall  state 
plainly  the  date  after  which  they  are  void. 

Sec.  23.  Blanks  to  be  furnished  by  commissioner  of  labor ; 
permits  to  be  in  duplicate ;  papers  forwarded  to  department ; 
surrender  and  cancellation  of  permits.  1915,  c.  327,  §  2. 
The  blank  work  permit  and  other  papers  required  in  the  two 
preceding  sections  shall  be  formulated  by  the  commissioner 
of  labor  and  industry,  and  furnished  by  him  to  the  persons 
authorized  to  issue  work  permits.  The  forms  of  such  per- 
mits and  other  papers  shall  be  approved  by  the  attorney 
general.  Every  work  permit  and  every  vacation  permit  shall 
be  made  out  in  duplicate.  All  duplicates,  accompanied  by 
the  original  papers  on  which  such  permits  were  issued,  shall 
be  forwarded  to  the  department  of  labor  and  industry,  by  the 
officer  issuing  same,  within  twenty-four  hours  of  the  time 
that  said  permit  was  issued.  Said  department  shall  examine 
said  papers  and  promptly  return  them  to  the  officer  who  sent 
them.  Said  original  papers  upon  which  said  permits  were 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  95 

issued  shall  be  filed  by  said  officer  and  preserved  for  such 
time  as  said  permits  are  outstanding,  or  until  the  minor 
arrives  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  They  shall  be  at  all  times 
accessible  to  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry  or  any 
authorized  agent  of  his  department.  Said  officer  shall  re- 
turn to  said  child  all  papers  with  him  filed  in  proof  of  age, 
upon  a  surrender  of  the  work  permit-  All  permits  thus  sur- 
rendered shall  be  marked  cancelled  by  the  officer  receiving 
them.  Whenever  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  a  work 
permit  w.as  improperly  issued  the  commissioner  of  labor  and 
industry,  and  state  factory  inspector,  his  deputy  or  agent, 
shall  notify  the  local  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  place 
in  which  said  certificate  was  issued.  The  local  superintend- 
ent shall  cancel  such  permit  when  directed  so  to  do  by  the 
commissioner  of  labor  and  industry. 

Sec.  24.  Blank  employment  certificates  shall  be  prepared ; 
notice  to  commissioner  when  employment  is  terminated. 
I9I5»  c.  327,  §  2.  Employment  certificates,  to  be  formulated 
by  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry,  approved  by  the 
attorney  general,  and  supplied  by  the  department  of  labor, 
shall  be  prepared  by  the  employer  of  said  child  and  mailed 
within  twenty-four  hours  to  the  office  of  the  commissioner 
to  be  kept  on  file  by  him.  When  such  child  leaves  such  em- 
ployment, the  employer  shall  return  to  the  child  the  work 
permit  by  him  filed,  and  immediately  notify  the  commis- 
sioner of  labor  and  industry  that  such  child  has  left  his  em- 
ploy. 

Sec.  25.  Record  of  age  shall  be  received  as  evidence. 
I9I5»  c-  327»  §  3-  Any  record  of  age,  as  provided  under  sec- 
tion twenty-one  to  determine  whether  or  not  a  work  permit 
may  be  issued  to  any  child  shall  be  received  as  evidence  of 
the  age  of  such  child  in  any  prosecution  under  section  twenty 
to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  26.  Work  permit  shall  be  conclusive  evidence;  offi- 
cer may  demand  documentary  evidence  of  age  of  child  em- 
ployed. 1915,  c.  327,  §  4.  A  work  permit  in  regular  form 
and  signed  by  a  duly  authorized  officer,  for  all  minors  be- 
tween  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  years,  shall  be  con- 
clusive evidence  of  age  and  educational  attainment,  in  behalf 
of  the  employer  of  any  child,  upon  any  prosecution  for  viola- 
tion of  the  provisions  of  the  law  relating  to  the  employment 


96  SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 

of  children.  An  inspector  of  factories,  attendance  officer,  or 
ether  officer  charged  with  the  enforcement  of  sections  twenty 
to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  may  make 
demand  on  any  employer  in  or  about  whose  place  or  estab- 
lishment a  minor  apparently  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
is  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work,  that  such  em- 
ployer shall  either  furnish  him  within  ten  days  documentary 
evidence  of  age  as  specified  in  section  twenty-one,  or  shall 
cease  to  employ,  permit  or  suffer  such  child  to  work  in  such 
place  or  establishment. 

Sec.  27.  Punishment  of  employer  for  violation  of  law, 
1915,  c.  327,  §  5.  Any  person,  firm  or  corporation,  agent  or 
manager  of  any  firm  or  corporation,  who,  either  for  himself 
or  for  some  firm  or  corporation,  or  by  himself,  or  through 
agents,  servants,  or  foremen,  employs,  permits  or  suffers 
any  child  to  be  employed,  or  to  work  in  violation  of  any  of 
the  provisions  of  sections  twenty  to  thirty,  both  inclusive, 
of  this  chapter,  or  otherwise  fails  to  comply  with  any  of 
the  provisions  of  said  sections,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine 
of  not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  two  hundred 
dollars. 

Sec.  28.  Punishment  of  parent,  guardian,  or  custodian  of 
child,  for  violation  of  law.  1915,  c.  327,  §  5.  Whoever, 
having  any  child  under  his  control  as  parent,  guardian,  custo- 
dian, or  otherwise,  permits  or  suffers  such  child  to  be  em- 
ployed or  to  work  in  violation  of  any  of  the  provisions  of 
sections  twenty  to  thirty,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  or 
whoever  presents,  or  permits  or  allows  any  child  under  his 
control  to  present,  to  any  employer,  owner  or  superintendent, 
overseer  or  agent  as  required  under  section  twenty-one  any 
work  permit  containing  any  false  statements  as  to  the  date 
of  birth  or  age  of  such  child,  knowing  them  to  be  false,  shall 
be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  ten,  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Sec.  29.  Penalty  for  failure  to  perform  duty.  1915,  c. 
327»  §  5-  Whoever  being  authorized  to  issue  a  work  permit, 
shall  knowingly  fail  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office  as 
required  by  the  provisions  of  section  twenty  to  thirty,  both 
inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not 
less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars  for  each 
offense. 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE.  97 

Sec.  30.  Penalty  for  testifying  to  false  statements..  1915, 
c  327»  §  5-  Whoever  being  authorized  to  sign  the  forego- 
ing work  permit,  or  whoever  signing  any  certified  copy  of 
a  town  clerk's  record  of  birth,  or  certified  copy  of  a  child's 
baptismal  record,  or  a  physician's  certificate,  shall  knowingly 
testify  to  any  false  statement  therein,  shall  be  punished  by 
a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars 
for  each  offense. 

Sec.  31.  Enforcement  of  penalties  and  fines.  1915,  c.  327, 
§  6.  All  fines  or  penalties  provided  for  by  the  terms  of  the 
eleven  preceding  sections  may  be  recovered  or  enforced  by 
complaint  or  indictment,  and  in  all  prosecutions  under  this 
chapter  and  amendments  and  additions  thereto,  trial  justices 
and  judges  of  the  municipal  and  police  courts  within  their 
counties  shall  have  by  complaint  original  and  concurrent 
jurisdiction  with  the  supreme  judicial  court  and  superior 
courts. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE. 


99 


INDEX. 


at 


Abetting    truancy 
Academies,   aid   to 

attendance 
courses   at 
income    of 
incorporation    of 
p:ayments  to   .  . 
reports    of 

towns   providing  free   tuition   in 
trustees    of 
Academy    property 

conveyance   of 
income    of 
Adjoining    towns,    attendance    in 

support    of    high    schools    in 
Admission    to    schools 
Age,     school 
Agency,  state  teachers' 

Agents  of  schools   in   unorganized  -territory 
Annual    pensions    for    teachers 

report   of    state    superintendent 
returas  of  municipal  officers 

superintendents 
Appeal  by  owner  of  lot  .................................... 

•either   party    from    appraisal 
Applicants    for    normal    schools 
Apportionment  of  school  funds 
Appointment   of  state   superintendent 

school    physicians 
Appraisement    of    damages 

notice    of 

Appropriation   for   medical    inspection 
normal    schools 
plans  for   school  buildings 
salaries    of    union    superintendents 
schools    in    unorganized    territory 
teachers'    examinations 

pensions 

Approval    of    bills 
plans 

for    new    buildings 
Arbor  Day 
Arrest    of    truants 
Assessment  of  sum  for  lot 
Assessors,   duties   of 
Associations,    teachers' 

expenses    of 

Attendance,    compulsory    school 
high    schools 
academies     ............................  .  ....... 

officers 

public    schools     ............................... 


B. 


Balance    unexpended     . 

of    school    fund 
Blanks   for   common   school   returns 

fiscal   returns 
Blind,    instruction    for 
Board   of    Trustees    normal    schools 

report   of 
pupils 


Section. 

Page. 

70 

35 

99 

46 

102 

46 

98 

45 

102 

46 

101 

46 

99 

46 

104 

47 

100 

46 

94 

44 

94 

44 

95 

45 

96 

45 

67 

33 

78 

37 

28 

15 

30 

15 

1 

69 

5 

1  (±(\ 

77 

0/5 

loll 
122 

ot) 
52 

31 

16 

50 

22 

4,6 

7,77 

9 

8 

143 

62 

1-16 

85-92 

120 

52 

40 

19 

3,6 

7,77 

6 

8 

47 

21 

146 

63 

13 

9 

58 

28 

1 

74 

132 

57 

176 

68 

49 

22 

12 

9 

14 

9 

109 

49 

71 

35 

7 

8 

31 

16 

110 

50 

110 

50 

66 

32 

97 

45 

102 

46 

68 

33 

30 

15 

11,12 

12,  91,  92 

11,12 

91,92 

124 

54 

123 

54 

147 

63 

144 

62 

144 

62 

2 

6 

100 


SCHOOL     LAWS     OF     MAINE. 


Section.  Page. 

Books,  change  of    38  18 

distribution    of    23  14 

exclusive  use  of  22 

for  schools    in   unorganized  territory 2  76 

loss    of    24  14 

purchase  of   

second  hand    22  13 

towns  shall  provide   

uniform   system   of    , 38  18 

Building    Committee    12  9 

Buildings,    plans    for    13  9 

plans  for    12  9 

standards  for  1  71 

Business  establishments    may   be  visited 68  33 

C. 

Castine  Normal   School    140  61 

Census,    school,    return    of 49  22 

may  be  retaken    50  22 

unorganized    territory ; 3  7Q 

Certificates,   attendance  at  conventions    Ill  50 

granting  of    128  55 

superintendence   grade    59 

teachers' 128  55 

failure  to  secure  131  57 

grades    of    ... 128  55 

Change  of  location  of  schools 2  6 

Child   Labor 20-31  92-97 

Christmas    Day    109  49 

Circulars    of    information     122  52 

Cities,   certain,   having   charters 34  17 

Classes   of  free   high    school 73  35 

Classification  of  scholars    38  18 

Collectors,  powers  and   duties   of 92  44 

College   preparatory   course    98  45 

presidents     105  47 

Columbus   Day    109  49 

Committee  approves    plans    12  9 

arrange   terms    of    office 33  17 

election  of  32  16 

members  shall  not  teach 33  17 

powers   and   duties  of 37  18 

serve  without  pay 36  17 

vacancies   in    33  17 

Commitment    of    truants     71  :;.-> 

Common    School    studies    122  52 

returns     '. . .  124  54 

tuition    67  33 

Compensation   of   superintendent    36  17 

Compulsory   education    63  31 

unorganized    territory    . .  10  79 

school  age    63  31 

school  age    66  32 

Condition   of   school   children 53  23 

Conference   of   superintendents    58  28 

Construction    of    school    buildings 14  9 

Contagious    diseases 44,  53  20  23 

Continuation    of   school    unions 55  '24 

Continuation    schools     1-3  5.7 

Contract   with   school   committee    84  40 

trustees  of  academy   84  40 

Control  of  schools  maintained   by  gifts '122  52 

Conventions,     state     122  52 

Conveyance  of  academy  property . . . . . .  . . .  95  45 

common   school   pupils    2  6 

secondary    school   pupils    78  37 

Cost    of   schooling   in    unorganized    territory 2  75 

Corporate  powers  of  school  district 1  5 

County    teachers'    associations 110  50 

formation  of 122 

Courses  of  study,  selection  of     38  .  18 

at   aca  demies 98  45 

at  normal  schools    140  61 

at   normal    schools    141  62 

in   free   high    schools 81  39 

Credit    to    students 152  05 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 


D. 


-JOT 


Section.   .     Page. 

Bates   of  returns,   census 50  22 

common   school   51  22 

fiscal     31  16 

Damages   laying   out  lots 3,  6  7,  77 

Days   to   be  observed    as    school   holidays 109  49 

Deaf  and   Dumb   children,   education   of 1  71 

Defacing    of   school    buildings 151  65 

Delinquent    towns 19  12 

Destruction    of   school   property 150  65 

Diplomas    at    normal    schools 142  62 

Discharge   of   superintendent    37  18 

Discontinuance    of    schools     2  6 

Diseases    or    defects    of   pupils 44  20 

Dismissal    of    teacher    38  18 

Disposal    of    truants     65  32 

Districts,    school    abolished    1  5 

corporate  powers   of    1  5 

organized    by    legislative    act 1  5 

Disturbing   schools,    penalty   foir 149  64 

Domestic  science,  aid  for  courses   in 135  58 

Defunct   town    and    plantation's 9  79 

Duties  of   state   superintendent 122  52 

superintendent     49-59  22-30 

superintendent  and   committee    37  18 

towns    16  11 

Drawing,    industrial   or    mechanical 26  14 

E. 

Education  of   d'eaf  and   dumb   children 1  71 

Election   of  attendance  officers    68  33 

school   committees 32  16 

superintendent     37  18 

superintendent   of   union    of    towns 55  24 

Employment    of    children    20  13 

teachers     49  22 

Encouragement    of  industrial   education 133  57 

English    Course    in    academies 98  45 

language,    basis   of   instruction 122  52 

Equalization    fund 9  88 

Establishment   of  free   high    schools 78  37 

union    schools 21  13 

Evening    Schools    25  14 

aid    to    towns    maintaining 137  59 

for    Americanization     137  59 

Examination   of  pupils  entering   secondary   schools 85  41 

pupils,    medical    43  20 

schools 49  22 

teachers    126  55 

Exclusion  by  committee   66  32 

of  scholars  on  account  of  contagious  diseases..  53  23 

of  scholars   not  vaccinated   38  18 

Excused   by   committee,    attendance 66  32 

Exits   from   schoolhouses    15  10 

Expenditure  by   tOAvms    failing  to    account  for    permanent 

school   fur-.'d    17  n 

of    school   fund 22  13 

of   school   money    16  11 

of  school  money  of  plantations 114  51 

Expenses    of    teachers'    conventions 112  51 

Expulsion    of    scholars     38  18 

F. 

Failure  of  towns  to  account  for  permanent  school  fund...  17  11 

to   perform   duties    19  12 

Farmington    Normal    School    140  61 

Fees   for    degrees    106  48 

Fifty  schools,   aid   to   superintendents  having  under  their 

care  more  than   55  04 

Fire  protection  in  schools 15  10 

Fiscal    reports 31  15 

Flags,    appropriation   for    .,.. .  52  23 

on   public   buildings    52 

Fog   warning   stations,    scholars   at 29  15 

Fraternities,    secret    .  39  19 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    MAINE. 


Section.  Page. 

Free   High    Schools,   classification  of 73  35 

courses  of  study  in 81  39 

establishment   of    • 78 

improvement   of    73  35 

inspection  of    76  37 

location    of 80 

Free   High    Schools,   management    of 40 

money  for   83  40 

precincts     79  38 

precincts,   taxes  of    

returns   of   87  42 

to  be  free  81  39 

Fund,  permanent  school,  failure  to  account  for 17  11 

equalization     9 

Funds,  free  high  school   

permanent  school    153  65 

state  school    1-16  85-92 

G. 

General  Industrial   Schools 138  60 

Oorham  Normal  School    

Grades   of   teachers'    certificates    128  55 

H. 

Habitual    truants    69  34 

Hearing,  examination  of 45 

on  location  of  lot   .' 6 

Heating   school  buildings   14  9 

High  Schools,  classification   of   73  35 

courses  of  study   in    .        81  39 

establishment    of    

improvement    of    

inspection   of    76  37 

location  of  80 

management    of    82  40 

money  for    83  40 

precincts    79 

precincts,    taxes   for    88  43 

returns   for    87  42 

to  be  free  81  39 

Holidays,    school     109  49 

Hygiene,    instruction   in    : 38  18 

I. 

Improvement   of  free   high    schools 73  35 

Improvements    on    lots     10 

Income   of   academies    103  47 

Incorporation    of   academies    101  46 

Independence   Day    109  49 

Industrial   Education,  encouragement   of 133  57 

Industrial    Drawing 26  14 

Injury   to   school  buildings 150      .          65 

to   school   books   or  appliances 24  14 

Inspection,    medical     40  19 

of  free  high   schools 76  37 

Institutions    for   truants    71  35 

Instruction    for    blind    147  63 

Instructors   of  youth,   duties   of 108  48 

Inure   to   town,   improvements 10  9 

J. 

Joint    committee   of   union    towns 56  25 

Junior   high    schools    73  35 

tuition    in    75  36 

K. 

Kindergartens     SO  15 

Kindness   to  birds   and   animals 108  48 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF    MAINE. 


103 


Section. 


Page. 


Labor    Day     ................................................ 

Laws,    publication   of  school    ..............................  52 

Length    of    terms     ......................................... 

of    school    month    ................................. 

of   school  week    ................................... 

Life  saving  stations,  scholars  at  ...........................  15 

Light  stations,   scholars   at  .................................  15,  74 

Lighting    school    buildings    ................................ 

Lincoln   Day    ...............................................  109 

List  of  approved  candidates  for  teachers'   certificates  ..... 

persons   of   school   age  ............................. 

Location  of  free  high   schools  ..............................  80 

schools    .......................................  2                  6 

school  from    dwelling   houses  ................  3,6            7,77 

schoolhous'e    lots    ............................  3,  6            7,  77 

schoolhouse  lots,  erroneous    .................  5 

Lots,    schoolhouse    .........................................  3,  6            7,  77 

erroneous    location    ....................  5 

M. 

Machias    Normal   School    ...................................  140                 61 

Madawaska  Training  School   ............................... 

Management    of    schools    ................................... 

Manual  Training,  aid  for  courses  in  ..............  .........  58 

schools     .................................  27                15 

direction   of    .....................  28                15 

Manufacturing    plants,    may     be     visited     by     attendance 

officers    ...................................................  68                33 

Mechanical    Drawing     ......................................  26                 14 

Medical    inspection     ........................................  40                19 

Memorial    Day    .............................................  109                 49 

Minimum    school    year    .....................................  20                 13 

Money  for  free   high    schools  ...............................  83                40 

for    schools    ........................................  16                11 

how   paid   by   town  ..................  .  .  18                12 

Municipal    officers,    duties    of  ...............................  31               »  16 

N. 

Neglect   of  duty  by  attendance  officers  ....................  68               33 

towns     .........................................  19 

to  choose  committee   ....................  35               17 

Normal    School    trustees    ...................................  144                 62 

Normal    Schools     ...........................................  140                 61 

appropriation    for    .......................  146               63 

industrial  courses   in    ....................  134                58 

upkeep    and    equipment    .................  1                81 

Notice  of  appraisement   ....................................  6                 8 

of   diseases    to    parents  .............................  44                20 

teachers'     examinations     ..........  .  ..............  126                55 

Notification   of  delinquent  committees    ....................  125               55 

O. 

Office   of   State   Superintendent    ............................  121                 52 

Operation   of  schools  having  too  few  scholars  ............  2                 6 

Organization    of    secret    societies  ...........................  39                19 

P. 

Part-time   and    Evening    Schools  ...........................  1-3                80 

Patriots'   Day    ..............................................  109 

Payments   to   academies    ................................... 

to  free  high  schools   ............................  98               45 

Penal  provisions  affecting   schools    ........................ 

Penalty    for    disturbing    schools  ........................  ----  149 

for    neglect   of   children  ...........................  54                24 

for  neglect  to  choose  superintending  school  com- 

mittee   ...........................................  35                17 

Pensions,    teachers'    ........................................  169                66 

Per    capita   expenditure    ...................................  22                13 

tax,    unorganized   territory    ....................  4                76 

Perkins    Institute    ..........................              .....  .  147                 63 


IO4 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    MAINE, 


Section.        Page. 

Permanent    school    fund    • 153  65 

failure   to    account   for 17 

Permits    for    teachers    130  56 

for   work    21 

Physical  condition  of  school  children 53 

Physical  education    72-7, 

Physicians,    school    

Physiology,    instruction   in    

Plantations,    schools    in     51 

Plans  for   school  buildings 

to  be  approved  by  committee 

Playgrounds,    land    for    7 

Powers  and  duties  of  superintending  school  committee...  37,38 

superintendent  of  schools    49-53, 59    22-23,  28 

Precinct  agent,   money    at    disposal   of 93  44 

free  high  school   79 

Precinct,   formation   of    79 

management   of    82  40 

to   be  free   81  39 

taxes    88  43 

assessment   of    89  43 

assessment  of  without  authority 91  44 

Presque  Isle  Normal  School   140  61 

Principals  of  normal   schools 140  61 

Privileges,   secondary   school,  in  unorganized   territory 1  74 

Proceedings    of    conventions    122  52 

Property,  destruction   of  school 150  65 

Protection  of  life  in  buildings  used  for  public  purposes..  15  10 

school  from   fire 15  10 

Provision  for  heating,  lighting  and  ventilation 14  9 

Pupils  from  out  of  town  in  free  high  schools 81  39 

Presidents   of  colleges    105  47 

Q. 

Qualifications  of  normal  school  applicants 143  62 

teachers    128  55 

superintendents   of  union  of  towns 59  28 

R. 

Raising  money  for  'schools 16 

Bating    of    schools    1-2  71 

Record     books     122  52 

Registers,    teachers'     107 

Registration    of   teachers    1-3  69-70 

Remodeling,    plans    to   be    approved 14 

Removal  of  schoolhouse 7 

Report,  annual,   of  state   superintendent 122 

of  superintendent  of  schools   49  22 

to  state  superintendent  50 

blanks  for   common   school 124  54 

for    fiscal    123  54 

of  academies   104  47 

of  free  high  schools   87  42 

of  normal  school  trustees    144  62 

of   union    superintendents    57  26 

to   town    meeting    49  22 

Reports    of   academies    104  47 

Returns,   annual,   municipal   officers    31  16 

annual,   superintendent  of  schools    50, 51  22 

from  educational  institutions  receiving  state  aid  104  47 

Reversion  of  lot  to  owner 3,  6  7,  77 

S. 

Safeguarding  schools  against  danger  of  fire 15  10 

Salary   of  union   superintendents 56  25 

Scholars   at   light   stations,   etc 29, 1  15,  74 

classification    of 38  18 

exclusion   of    38  18 

expulsion  of   38  18 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    MAINE. 


105 


School  age   

compulsory    

list   of  persons  of 

books    (see   textbooks) 

buildings,    def acirig   of   

injury    to    

plans   for 

School    census    

may   be  retaken    

committee     

fund    

distribution     of 

expenditure  of   

holidays 

laws    

money,  how  paid   by  towms 

of   plantations    

withheld    

month,   length   of   

physicians     

week,   length    of    

Schools,  change  in  location  of  

evening    

fifty,    superintendents   of   more   than 

in    plantations    

in    unorgandz-ed   territory,    agents   for 

manual   training    

normal  and  training  

appropriation    for    

summer    

union    

Second   hand    books    

Secondary   Instruction,   unorganized   territory    

schools    

Secret    societies 

Selectmen,    duties    of    

Services    of   teachers 

Sight,   examination    of    

Standardization    of    schools    

State   aid,    academies    

misapplication    of    

to     superintendents     having     more     than     fifty 

schools 

union   of  towns    

withheld     

educational    conventions    . . . . 

school    fund     

superintendent   of    schools    

annual   report  of    

appointment    of    

duties    of    

investigate   industrial   ed- 
ucation      

office    of    

Statistics    of  normal    schools 

Students,   credit   to 

Studies    in    common    schools ! 

Summer   training   schools .  . •"  . 

Superintendence    grade   certificate    .!!.....!........!....... 

of  schools   through  union   of  towns..... 

Superintendent,    compensation    of    

discharge  of 

election   of   !....'!!. 

powers    and    duties   of 

traveling    expenses    of    .  '. 

Superintending    school    committee,    arrange    terms. ...... 

election  of  ......... 

member     of     shall     not 

teach    

powers   and    duties  of. . 

secretary   of   

serve  without  pay 

Suspension    of   school    

schools  for   conventions 


Section. 

Page. 

30 

15 

66 

32 

49 

22 

151 

65 

150 

65 

13 

9 

49 

22 

50 

22 

32 

16 

153,  1-16 

65,  85-92 

1-16 

85-92 

22 

13 

109 

49 

122 

52 

18 

12 

114 

51 

19 

12 

49 

22 

40 

19 

49 

22 

2 

6 

25 

14 

55 

24 

113 

51 

5 

77 

27 

15 

140 

61 

146 

63 

122 

52 

21 

13 

22 

13 

1 

74 

72 

35 

39 

19 

31 

16 

107 

48 

45 

21 

1-2 

71 

104 

47 

78 

37 

57 

°6 

57 

26 

19 

12 

110 

50 

153 

60 

120 

52 

1?2 

52 

1°0 

52 

122 

52 

133 
121 
110 
152 
122 

122. 1-? 
50 

55-62 
56 

Bfl 

56 

49-53.  50 
57 
33 
32 

33 
37 
59 
36 
33 
2 

111 


5o 
61 
65 
52 

52.  71-72 

28 

24-31. 

25 
25 

22-23  °S 

'  '  2<\ 

17 

16 

17 

18 
28 
17 
17 
6 
50 


ic6 


SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    MAINE. 


T. 

Section.        Page. 

Tax  not  affected  by  error  in  location  of  school 11  | 

Teacher,  dismissal  of   Jg 

Teachers,   employment    of    . . • * 

payment   for   .services    ot JJ" 

qualifications    of    1°§          71_f| 

training  of  rural *•-*          iL  J- 

Teachers'    agency    11fl 

associations    jg  £j 

certificates    

failure  to  secure   

grades  of   J28 

examinations • 

appropriation    for    

meetings,   expenses  of    "* 

pensions g 

registers    :"" 

Temporary   teaching   permits "" 

Tender  to  be  allowed  in  payment  of  lot 8  « 

Terms,   length    of 

Tests   for   sight   and   h-earing -g  ji 

Textbooks,  change  of 

distribution  of   £J 

exclusive  use  of   57 

loss  of  and   damage  to • -. •  •  • 

provision  of  for  secondary  school   tuition  stu- 

dents     

purchase  of   S| 

second    hand     ~£ 

Textbooks,    town    shall    provide    

uniform  system  of  j*>  4q 

Thanksgiving    Day     .•••• 

Towns,  by-laws  concerning  truants    «*  • 

delinquent    ^  -^ 

Providing  'free'  'tuition'  'in '  academy '. 

Training  course  for  teachers  in  academies •»<>  * 

of    rural    teachers    J-.  -  *-  Ao 

school,   Ma'dawaska    

appropriation    for    

Transportation    of    pupils    • •  •  •  • -  ^7 

in  secondary  schools    f£  -^ 

Truancy     

abutting     ,- •  •  •  •  • 

Truant  officers   (see  attendance  officers) « 

election  of    

compensation    of    QQ 

duties    of    % 

in   unorgainized   territory    '  < 

neglect  of  duty  by J>s 

Truants,   a rrest  of    o9 

disposal    of    

institutions    for     • •  • 

Treasurer   of   State  to  be  furnished   with   number   of   per- 

isons  of  school   age   

Trustees    of    academies    J» 

normal    schools     ijj 

Tuition   in    common    schools «'  Q;» 

junior   high    schools    

secondary    schools    ** 

scholars     

U. 

Unexpended    balP-nce     ;.;.-. ^  S' if     ™*&  % 

Union  of  towns  for   school   superintendence 

all  towns  combined  by 
the  state  superintend- 
ent    55  24 

{i.nnual    returns    57 

conference  for  instruc- 
tion    58 

joint   committee   of 56  25 

number   of   schools   in..  55 

provisions     for     remote 

towns     .  61,62  HO,  HI 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    MAINE.  IQ/ 

Section.         Page, 
salaries    of   superintend- 
ents       58  28 

towns  and  cities  of  over 
fifty     schools    ne'ed    not 

unite     57  26 

Union    schools    21  13 

management  of   21  13 

superintendents,    appropriation   for   salaries   of 58  28 

compensation   of   57  26 

conference   of   58  28 

election  of   56  25 

qualifications   of    59  28 

Unorganized   territory,    school   agents    5  77 

school  buildings   7  78 

schoolhouse    lots    6  77 

schools    in    1  74 

appropriation  for   _. 2  75 

secondary    instruction    in    1  74 

truancy    and   child   labor 10  79 

V. 

Vacancies,    superintending    school    committee 33  17 

Vacation    permits    22  94 

Vaccinated,   exclusion   of   scholars   not 38  18 

Ventilating    school    buildings    14  9 

Vocational    education    1  70 

appropriation    for    3  70 


Washington    Normal    School    140  61 

Washington's    Birthday       109  49 

Welfare  of  school  children   53  23 

Withholding    of    state    aid 19  12 

Work  permits   21  93 

Y. 

Year,   minimum   school    20  13 


738446 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


